US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Joseph Leone

Thomas DeVoe

Henry Kerwien

Josiah W Fay

Gregory C Burke

Arthur A Karpinski

Luke Helsel

Nicholas Turner

Anthony E Tartarilla, Iii

A diode pumped solid-state laser for high shock, high vibration environments such as those found in laser ignition systems for artillery systems.

Diode pumped solid-state laser for high shock environments

A hardened pump laser comprises a hardened pump chamber that combines the functions of a conventional flash lamp and a conventional laser cavity flow tube. The hardened pump chamber comprises a hardened filter tube and electrodes. The electrodes are sealed to the hardened filter tube. A chamber in the hardened filter tube is filled with gas through the electrodes, then sealed. The hardened pump chamber performs the laser pumping function while further performing filtering and diffusion functions.

Hardened pump laser and method of making the same

An artillery charge includes a generally cylindrical body with a hollow core; propellant disposed in the body and first energetic material disposed in the hollow core; and a seal disposed over one end of the hollow core, the seal including second energetic material disposed therein. A laser igniter ignites the second energetic material in the seal, thereby providing more reliable ignition of the first energetic material and the propellant. The artillery charge reliably ignites using a lower powered laser than known charges.

Artillery charge with laser ignition

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Oak Ridge, NJ, United States of America

Joseph Leone