Portable laser source

A portable laser source for igniting a pyrotechnic device, comprising:

• a flash lamp assembly including a sealed, substantially-cylindrical, elongate glass ampoule containing a combustible material and an accelerant, said ampoule having opposite ends and defining a hollow central channel extending longitudinally therethrough;
• an elongate laser rod positioned within said hollow channel for being subject to a flash of light emitted by firing said combustible material;
• and
• a hermetically-sealed, substantially cylindrical enclosure housing said flash lamp assembly and said laser rod and including at least one optical transmission window through which a laser beam emitted from said laser rod is transmitted from said enclosure;
• said combustible material being hermetically-sealed from said laser rod within said enclosure to maintain physical and electrical isolation of said laser rod from combustible and electrically conductive components of said flash lamp assembly.

A portable laser source for igniting a pyrotechnic device, comprising:

• a flash lamp assembly including a cavity formed by separate inner and outer glass tubes and ceramic insulating plates at opposite ends thereof and defining a hollow central channel extending longitudinally therethrough and a combustible material contained within said cavity for producing a flash of light when fired;
• an elongate laser rod extending within said hollow channel for being subject to said flash of light emitted by said flash lamp assembly;
• and
• a hermetically-sealed enclosure housing both said flash lamp assembly and said laser rod and including at least one optical transmission window through which a laser beam emitted by said laser rod is transmitted;
• said combustible material being hermetically-sealed from said laser rod within said enclosure to maintain physical and electrical isolation of said laser rod from combustible and electrically conductive components of said flash lamp assembly.