Performance Characteristics of a Laser Initiated Microdetonator

The test results of 320 units of a laser initiated microdetonator are summarized. The commercially fabricated units used a lead styphnate/lead azide/HMX (1 mg/17.5 mg/13.5 mg) explosive train design contained in a miniature aluminum can that was capped with a glass‐metal seal window. The test parameters were the laser energy, temperature, laser pulse duration, laser wavelength and nuclear radiation (5 × 106 rad of 1 MeV gamma rays). The performance parameters were the laser energy for ignition and the actuation response time.