Menichelli V.J., Yang L.C. Sensitivity of Explosives to Laser Energy

Pasadena: Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology, 1970. — 31 p.A study has been made to determine the practicability of initiating some common explosives with laser energy. Pulsed ruby and neodymium lasers, in the free-running mode, were the source of energy. The laser pulse was adjusted for 5 J output and externally attenuated. The explosive materials were pressed prior to testing. Primary high explosives and some metal/metal oxide mixtures were easily initiated. However, secondary high explosives were not initiated at the 5-J level under the conditions reported. Reflectivity of the sample surface is of considerable importance to initiation. The relative sensitivity ordering of the explosives tested conformed quite well to the ordering one would expect from other methods of sensitivity testing, i.e., friction, impact, etc., provided that the sensitivity value is adjusted for reflective losses.