Abstract

The replacement of conventional electrical ignition with laser diode ignition (LDI) enhances safety at both component and system levels. Electrically ignited devices can be sensitive to static electrical discharges which dictate special handling care. Accidental ignition could cause personal injury. LDI eliminates the possibility of this occurrence. In LDI, an intense light pulse from a laser diode is used to ignite a pyrotechnic or explosive material. Optical ignition thresholds for a variety of pyrotechnic mixes are near or below 0.5 W in a 10-ms pulse from a 100-μm core diameter fiber.

© 1992 Optical Society of America