Means for achieving low order detonation of a device filled with a metal oxyanion / bidentate fuel ligand complex by means of a low power diode laser

摘要

A means is provided for initiating a low order detonation (e.g. detonation velocity below 3500 m/s) in a detonator tube filled with salts of a Metal Oxyanion / Bidentate fuel ligand complex (MOS-Bid) such as Nickel Hydrazine Nitrate (NiHN) by means of a low power diode laser operating at the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength of 808 nm. The diode laser wavelength chosen matches the absorption band of Nickel Hydrazine Nitrate. The laser may have a power output of up to 1.5W and may be delivered down a fibre optic cable to cause detonation. The time to detonation following a prompt laser pulse can be adjusted by varying the laser power or the diameter of the fibre optic cable. The arrangement is particularly suited for application to a guided weapon where a NIR diode laser proximity sensor is used such that at the appropriate stand-off distance from the target, light from the proximity sensing laser can easily be directed down a fibre optic cable to a NiHN detector in order to detonate the warhead.