High-speed Photography of Pyrotechnic Materials and Components with a Coppper Vapor Laser

The evaluation of the properties of energetic materials, such as burn rate and ignition energy, is of primary importance in understanding their reactions and the functioning of devices containing them. One method for recording such information is high-speed photography at rates of up to 20,000 images per second. When a copper vapor lazer is synchronized with the camera, laser-illuminated images can be recorded that detail the performance of a material or component in a manner never before possible. Recent results from high-speed photography of several pyrotechnic materials and devices will be presented. These include a pyrotechnic torch, laser ignition of high explosives, and a functioning igniter. Equilibrium chemical computations have recently been begun on the pyrotechnic torch to obtain flame compositions and temperatures. The results of these calculations, and their explanation of the change in torch function with composition, will be discussed