Abstract: A component for manipulating an input shockwave. The component includes a body comprising a first material. The body defines a cavity for manipulating the input shockwave so to produce a manipulated shockwave. The cavity comprises an input for receiving the input shockwave incident upon the component and an output for outputting the manipulated shockwave from the cavity. The cavity contains a second material having a shock-impedance that is lower than a shock-impedance of the first material.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a localized concentration of energy. The method includes creating at least one shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as to be incident upon a pocket of gas suspended within the medium. The pocket of gas is spaced from a surface shaped so as, at least partially, to reflect said shockwave in such a way as to direct it onto said gas pocket.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a localized concentration of energy. The method includes creating at least one shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as to be incident upon a pocket of gas within the medium wherein the pocket of gas is attached to a non-planar surface shaped to concentrate the intensity of the shockwave which is incident upon the pocket of gas.

Abstract: A method of producing a localized concentration of energy including providing a pocket of gas in a non-gaseous medium and in contact with a surface. The surface includes a depression shaped so as to at least partially receive the pocket of gas. A static pressure is applied to the non-gaseous medium, with an average value greater than atmospheric pressure such that the pocket of gas collapses to form a transverse jet. The surface depression is arranged to receive the transverse jet impact such that at least some of pocket of gas is trapped between the impacting jet and the surface depression. An apparatus for producing a localized concentration of energy is also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a localized concentration of energy includes: creating at least one shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as first to be incident upon a focusing pocket of fluid within the medium. The focusing pocket of fluid is positioned relative to a differently sized target pocket of gas within the medium, and is arranged to shield the target pocket of gas from the initial shockwave, such that the incidence of the shockwave on the focusing pocket of fluid concentrates the intensity of a shockwave subsequently incident upon the target pocket of gas. An apparatus for producing a localized concentration of energy is also described.

Abstract: A method of producing a localized concentration of energy includes: creating a shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as to be incident upon a boundary between the non-gaseous medium and a gaseous medium formed by at least one hole in a barrier separating the non-gaseous medium from a gaseous medium. This forms a transverse jet on the other side of the hole which is incident upon a target surface comprising a depression which is spaced from the barrier in the gaseous medium. An apparatus for producing a localized concentration of energy is also described.

Abstract: A method of impacting liquid droplets onto a surface includes providing a series of liquid droplets, and directing the liquid droplets at a non-planar target surface to cause a shockwave in the droplets upon impact. An apparatus for impacting liquid droplets onto a surface includes a mechanism to produce a series of liquid droplets, and a mechanism to direct the liquid droplets at a non-planar target surface to cause a shockwave in the droplets upon impact. The non-planar target surface is shaped to intensify the shockwave in the droplets.

Abstract: A method of producing a localized concentration of energy includes providing a series of projectiles and firing the projectiles at a target. An apparatus for producing localized concentration of energy includes: a mechanism to provide a series of projectiles and a mechanism to fire the projectiles at a target. The target is configured such that upon striking the target, a projectile traps and compresses a volume of gas between the projectile and the target. The target and the projectile are also configured such that impact of the projectile onto the target gives rise to a converging shockwave inside the trapped volume of gas.

Abstract: A method of producing a localized concentration of energy comprises creating at least one shockwave (10) propagating through a non-gaseous medium (8) so as to be incident upon a pocket of gas (2) within the medium (8). The pocket of gas (2) is attached to a surface (6) comprising a depression (4) shaped so as partially to receive the gas pocket (2). An apparatus for producing a localized concentration of energy comprises a non-gaseous medium (8) having therein a pocket of gas (2). The pocket of gas (2) is attached to a surface (6) comprising a depression (4) shaped so as partially to receive the gas pocket (2). The apparatus further comprises means for creating at least one shockwave (10) propagating through the medium (8) so as to be incident upon the pocket of gas (2).

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a localized concentration of energy. The method includes creating at least one shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as to be incident upon a pocket of gas suspended within the medium. The pocket of gas is spaced from a surface shaped so as, at least partially, to reflect said shockwave in such a way as to direct it onto said gas pocket.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a localised concentration of energy. The method includes creating at least one shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as to be incident upon a pocket of gas within the medium wherein the pocket of gas is attached to a non-planar surface shaped to concentrate the intensity of the shockwave which is incident upon the pocket of gas.

Abstract: A method of producing a localised concentration of energy includes: creating at least one shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as first to be incident upon a focusing pocket of fluid within the medium. The focusing pocket of fluid is positioned relative to a differently sized target pocket of gas within the medium, and is arranged to shield the target pocket of gas from the initial shockwave, such that the incidence of the shockwave on the focusing pocket of fluid concentrates the intensity of a shockwave subsequently incident upon the target pocket of gas. An apparatus for producing a localised concentration of energy is also described.

Abstract: A method of producing a localised concentration of energy includes: creating a shockwave propagating through a non-gaseous medium so as to be incident upon a boundary between the non-gaseous medium and a gaseous medium formed by at least one hole in a barrier separating the non-gaseous medium from a gaseous medium. This forms a transverse jet on the other side of the hole which is incident upon a target surface comprising a depression which is spaced from the barrier in the gaseous medium. An apparatus for producing a localised concentration of energy is also described.

Abstract: A method of producing a localised concentration of energy including providing a pocket of gas in a non-gaseous medium and in contact with a surface. The surface includes a depression shaped so as to at least partially receive the pocket of gas. A static pressure is applied to the non-gaseous medium, with an average value greater than atmospheric pressure such that the pocket of gas collapses to form a transverse jet. The surface depression is arranged to receive the transverse jet impact such that at least some of pocket of gas is trapped between the impacting jet and the surface depression. An apparatus for producing a localised concentration of energy is also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a localised concentration of energy comprises creating at least one shockwave (10) propagating through a non-gaseous medium (8) so as to be incident upon a pocket of gas (2) within the medium (8). The pocket of gas (2) is attached to a surface (6) comprising a depression (4) shaped so as partially to receive the gas pocket (2). An apparatus for producing a localised concentration of energy comprises a non-gaseous medium (8) having therein a pocket of gas (2). The pocket of gas (2) is attached to a surface (6) comprising a depression (4) shaped so as partially to receive the gas pocket (2). The apparatus further comprises means for creating at least one shockwave (10) propagating through the medium (8) so as to be incident upon the pocket of gas (2).

Abstract: A method of producing a localized concentration of energy includes providing a series of projectiles and firing the projectiles at a target. An apparatus for producing localized concentration of energy includes: a mechanism to provide a series of projectiles and a mechanism to fire the projectiles at a target. The target is configured such that upon striking the target, a projectile traps and compresses a volume of gas between the projectile and the target. The target and the projectile are also configured such that impact of the projectile onto the target gives rise to a converging shockwave inside the trapped volume of gas.

Abstract: A method of impacting liquid droplets onto a surface includes providing a series of liquid droplets, and directing the liquid droplets at a non-planar target surface to cause a shockwave in the droplets upon impact. An apparatus for impacting liquid droplets onto a surface includes a mechanism to produce a series of liquid droplets, and a mechanism to direct the liquid droplets at a non-planar target surface to cause a shockwave in the droplets upon impact. The non-planar target surface is shaped to intensify the shockwave in the droplets.