Research Progress on Energy Deposition and Physicochemical Damage in Laser Initiation Systems

Laser initiation technology, with its advantages of anti-electromagnetic interference, fast response speed, and high intrinsic safety, serves as a core technology for transitioning pyrotechnic devices from electrical to optical initiation. It is regarded as an interesting and promising research direction. This paper systematically reviews the full-chain research progress in this field, spanning from microscopic energy deposition mechanisms and laser-sensitive energetic materials to system integration applications. It clarifies the applicable boundaries of three types of interaction mechanisms, thermal-chemical damage, photochemical reactions, and plasma shock waves, and identifies the regulatory effects of key parameters such as wavelength and power density on ignition thresholds. The characteristic and performance differences among photosensitization modification pathways of traditional energetic materials, including carbon-based derivatives, organic dyes, and nano-metal particles, are summarized. The structure–activity relationships and design strategies of zero-dimensional to three-dimensional energetic coordination compounds are elucidated, and recent advances in photoresponsive conjugated organic energetic materials are introduced. Three technical routes, direct laser initiation, exploding foil initiation, and laser-driven flyer impact initiation, are summarized in terms of their architectural features and application scenarios. Finally, the strategies and challenges in designing laser-sensitive energetic materials with optimized performance are discussed, aiming to provide preliminary guidance for further applications of laser initiation technology.