Patent ID: 6150630
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: B23K,C06B,F42B,G02F,H01S

Abstract:
A method for machining explosive materials, comprising:producing a pulsed laser output beam comprising a plurality of laser pulses wherein each pulse of said plurality of laser pulses has a pulse repetition rate greater than 1 Hz, wherein each said pulse has a pulse duration of 50 picosecond or less; anddirecting said pulsed laser output beam onto a workpiece comprising explosive material, wherein each said pulse converts approximately 0.01 to 1 micron of said explosive material of said workpiece from the solid state to the plasma state with substantially no transfer of thermal or mechanical energy into the remaining material and substantially no collateral damage thereto, wherein said explosive material is removed from said workpiece by hydrodynamic expansion of said plasma, wherein said plasma consists of inert gases and no toxic vapor, wherein said method does not induce detonation or deflagration of said explosive material.