SBIR-STTR Award

A proposal is set forth to investigate, develop, and demonstrate improved methods to couple laser energy into projectile weapons for initiation of primers, propellants, and other explosive media. To initiate a primer, propellant or other explosive media, methods to reliably couple and direct high energy laser light through the breach are needed. To allow continued research into the optimal wavelengths needed to perform the initiation and to qualify the best laser source, a breach penetrator must operate repeatably, and reliably over a wide range of optical wavelengths and optical power densities. We propose to investigate and demonstrate improved methods to couple a wide variety of laser sources through the breach using optical fiber based penetrators for the purpose to ignite both conventional primer and igniter materials. In addition, we will investigate methods to introduce consumable optical fibers embedded within a propellant charge and to review other methods to introduce laser light into shell casings. The development of optical penetrators able to withstand repeatable and rapid firings would yield significant improvement in methods to safely initiate propellants with improved flexibility and control.

Proposal to investigate, produce, and demonstrate methods to couple high energy laser radio into confined high-pressure regions for the purpose of igniting propellants for large caliber gun propulsion for the Army is described. The technology required to seal optical fibers in rugged steel components (optical fiber feedthroughs) is being developed. Metallic thin films are deposited onto the fibers using ceramic adhesives, organometallics, chemical vapor deposition and metal sputtering. The fibers can then be welded into metal components of any shape and used for the transmission of laser radiation into heretofore optically inaccessible areas. The same feedthrough technology will be used in commercial markets for environmental sensors, laser delivery for surgery, medical sensors, high vacuum or high pressure access, chemical in-process control for industry, optical access for radioactive environments, automotive applications (engine combustion analysis), fly by light applications, space station and marine and oceanographic sensors. Dual use technology applications: Optical fiber feedthroughs are needed in nearly every commercial sector where a safe and reliable method to convey laser light, sensor information, data and spectrophotometric information is required. Optical fiber feedthroughs are a dual use technology and have applications in many industries. Applications include space, aerospace, marine, medical and industrial process and control and wherever transmission of optical information across and environmental barrier is necessary. Optical feedthroughs which General Fiber Optics is developing are being used to couple laser energy into hostile, high-pressure areas for large caliber gun propulsion. This work is performed under the LIGHT Program (Laser Ignition in Guns, Howitzers and Tanks) for the Advanced Field Artillery System (AFAS) liquid propellant gun and the Unicharge 155 mm howitzer. The technology developed under the Phase I and Phase II has been used to develop feedthroughs sold to customers such as NOAA for underwater spectroscopy, AED for space and atmospheric research, Exxon for petrochemical research, and NASA Langley for space plane engine.