Ignition and High Speed Photography of Energetic Materials with a Copper Vapor Laser

摘要

The reactions of energetic materials are rapid and often violent and require specialized diagnostics to study them. A method recently applied to this problem is laser illuminated high speed photography with a copper vapor laser than can record up to 10,000 laser illuminated images per second. This type of laser photography has provided images that detail the performance of a material or component in a manner never before possible. The copper vapor laser can also be used for the ignition of energetic materials. Details of such ignitions are readily observable, and the burn rate of the material can be determined directly from the film. There are indications that information useful for the modeling of energetic material reactions will become available as well. Recent results on several materials, including Ti/2B, a pyrotechnic torch, and the explosive hexanitrostilbene, are presented. (ERA citation 13:015701)