초록

A laser weapon system includes a chamber configured to direct a post-detonation gas flow between a first mirror and a second mirror, and an ejectable ammunition cartridge containing a first gas and a second gas. The cartridge is fluidly connected to the chamber.

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1. A laser weapon system, comprising: a chamber configured to direct a post-detonation gas flow between a first mirror and a second mirror; andan ejectable ammunition cartridge containing a first gas, a second gas, and a rupturable membrane separating the first gas from the second gas, the cartridge

1. A laser weapon system, comprising: a chamber configured to direct a post-detonation gas flow between a first mirror and a second mirror; andan ejectable ammunition cartridge containing a first gas, a second gas, and a rupturable membrane separating the first gas from the second gas, the cartridge being fluidly connected to the chamber, wherein the rupturable membrane is disposed proximate a front tip of the cartridge, and the front tip is disposed at an opposite end of the cartridge from a primer of the cartridge. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second gases form a gas mixture within the cartridge. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mirror is fully reflective and the second mirror is partially transmissive. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second mirrors are configured to direct an additively-formed laser beam to an exit of the system. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the laser beam is directed through at least one substantially transparent window and along an emission axis that is substantially parallel to a detonation axis. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mirror directs light energy emitted by the post-detonation gas flow to the second mirror. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second mirror directs a portion of the light energy to an exit of the system and directs a remainder of the light energy to the first mirror. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second mirrors are disposed downstream of a venturi configured to produce a temperature drop in the post-detonation gas flow. 9. The system of claim 1, further including a loader, the cartridge being configured to blow back a component of the loader upon detonation of the first and second gases. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the chamber defines a detonation axis and an emission axis substantially collinear the detonation axis. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mirror is disposed on a rearmost leg of the chamber and the second mirror is disposed opposite the first mirror on a separate frontmost leg of the chamber. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the chamber further comprises a first venturi disposed upstream of the first mirror and a second venturi disposed upstream of the second mirror, the first and second venturis configured to produce a temperature drop in the post-detonation gas flow proximate the first and second mirrors, respectively. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the chamber further comprises a first window disposed on the rearmost leg opposite the first mirror and a second window disposed on the frontmost leg opposite the second mirror. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a plurality of legs, a substantially equal portion of the post-detonation gas flow being directed to each leg. 15. A method of forming a laser beam with a laser weapon system, comprising combusting a gas disposed in a removable cartridge to form a post-detonation gas flow exiting the cartridge;directing the post-detonation gas flow through a chamber fluidly connected to the cartridge, the post-detonation gas flow passing between first and second mirrors of the chamber; andcooling a portion of the post-detonation gas flow upstream of the first and second mirrors, wherein cooling the portion of the post-detonation gas flow includespassing the portion through a first venturi disposed upstream of the first mirror and passing a remainder of the post-detonation gas flow through a second venturi disposed upstream of the second mirror. 16. The method of claim 15, further including directing light energy emitted by the cooled post-detonation gas flow to the second mirror with the first mirror. 17. The method of claim 16, further including directing a portion of the light energy received by the second mirror to an exit of the system with the second mirror and directing a remainder of the light energy received by the second mirror to the first mirror. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising directing a substantially equal portion of the post-detonation gas flow to each leg of a plurality of legs defined by the chamber. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein each leg comprises a respective venturi and at least one substantially transparent window disposed downstream of the respective venturi. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first mirror is disposed on a rearmost leg of the plurality of legs and the second mirror is disposed opposite the first mirror on a frontmost let of the plurality of legs. 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the laser beam is additively formed. 22. The method of claim 15, further including directing the laser beam along an emission axis defined by the system, wherein the chamber defines a detonation axis substantially parallel to the emission axis. 23. The method of claim 15, further comprising inserting a magazine carrying the cartridge into a loader of the system, the loader being fluidly connected to the chamber. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the loader is connected to a firearm and configured to automatically position a plurality of cartridges upstream of the chamber. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein combusting the gas disposed in the cartridge assists in blowing back a component of the leader. 26. A laser weapon system, comprising: a chamber having a frontmost leg and a separate rearmost leg, the chamber defining a detonation axis and an emission axis substantially parallel to the detonation axis;a first mirror disposed on the rearmost leg substantially parallel to a second mirror disposed on the frontmost leg, a reflective surface of each of the first and second mirrors being disposed substantially perpendicular to the emission axis;a first venturi disposed upstream of the first mirror; anda second venturi disposed upstream of the second mirror. 27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of cartridges disposed in a magazine connected to the system, a cartridge of the plurality of cartridges being fluidly connected to the chamber. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the cartridge comprises a first gas, a second gas, and a rupturable membrane separating the first gas from the second gas. 29. The system of claim 27, wherein the cartridge contains a combustible gas and directs a post-detonation gas flow into the chamber in response to detonation of a primer. 30. The system of claim 29, wherein the chamber directs a portion of the post-detonation gas flow through the first venturi and a remainder of the post-detonation gas flow through the second venturi. 31. The system of claim 29, wherein the post-detonation gas flow spontaneously emits light energy proximate the first and second mirrors. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the first mirror directs the light energy to the second mirror and the second mirror reflects a portion of the light energy received from the first mirror back to the first mirror. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the second mirror directs a remainder of the light energy received from the first mirror to an exit of the system. 34. The system of claim 29, wherein an equal portion of the post-detonation gas flow is directed to the frontmost leg and the rearmost leg. 35. The system of claim 26, wherein the chamber comprises a first window disposed opposite the first mirror and a second window disposed opposite the second mirror. 36. A laser weapon system, comprising: a loader including a bay and a bolt aligned with the bay, the bay configured to accept an ejectable ammunition cartridge containing a first gas separate from a second gas, andthe bolt configured to assist in positioning the cartridge within the bay; anda chamber fluidly connected to the bay, the chamber including a leg, a first mirror, a second mirror, and a venturi, wherein the venturi is disposed within the leg,at least one of the first and second mirrors is disposed on the leg downstream of the venturi, andthe leg is configured to direct a post-detonation gas flow through the venturi, and between the first and second mirrors. 37. The system of claim 36, further including a buffer coaxial with the bolt and the bay, the buffer configured to accept the bolt when an unspent ammunition cartridge is loaded into the loader. 38. The system of claim 36, further including a barrel fluidly connected to the loader, the barrel substantially surrounding the leg. 39. The system of claim 36, further including a transparent window disposed between the first and second mirrors. 40. The system of claim 36, wherein the first and second mirrors are disposed along an emission axis defined by the chamber. 41. The system of claim 40, wherein the first and second mirrors are disposed substantially perpendicular to the emission axis. 42. The system of claim 36, wherein the first and second mirrors are disposed downstream of the venturi, and the venturi is configured to produce a temperature drop in the post-detonation gas flow. 43. The system of claim 36, wherein the first mirror is disposed on a rearmost leg of the chamber and the second mirror is disposed opposite the first mirror on a separate frontmost leg of the chamber.