Detonator comprising a nonlinear transmission line

1. A detonator comprising:

a nonlinear transmission line having a capacitance that varies as a function of voltage on the nonlinear transmission line, the nonlinear transmission line configured to receive an input voltage pulse and compress the input voltage pulse to generate a trigger signal, the trigger signal having a predefined rise time and shape; and

an igniter that ignites an explosive responsive to receiving the trigger signal from the nonlinear transmission line.

2. The detonator of claim 1 , the igniter being one of a fuse or a bridge wire.

3. The detonator of claim 1 , the nonlinear transmission line comprising a variable capacitor, wherein the variable capacitor is a lumped element in the nonlinear transmission line.

4. The detonator of claim 3 , the variable capacitor having a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers comprising:

a first metal oxide layer;

a second metal oxide layer;

a third metal oxide layer;

a first dielectric layer; and

a second dielectric layer, the first dielectric layer disposed between the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer, the second dielectric layer disposed between the second metal oxide layer and the third metal oxide layer.

5. The detonator of claim 4 , the first metal oxide layer, the second metal oxide layer, and the third metal oxide layer being composed of zinc oxide.

6. The detonator of claim 4 , the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer composed of a ceramic.

7. The detonator of claim 6 , the ceramic being barium titanate.

8. The detonator of claim 4 , wherein the first metal oxide layer, the second metal oxide layer, and the third metal oxide layer have equivalent widths, and wherein the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer have equivalent widths.

9. The detonator of claim 4 , wherein the first metal oxide layer has a width that is different from a width of the second metal oxide layer or a width of the third metal oxide layer.

10. The detonator of claim 4 , wherein the first metal oxide layer, the second metal oxide layer, the third metal oxide layer, the first dielectric layer, and the second dielectric layer are formed as concentric rings.

11. The detonator of claim 4 , the nonlinear transmission line comprising a dielectric material, the dielectric material comprising conductive nanoparticles distributed therein, the dielectric material being a thermoset.

12. The detonator of claim 11 , the conductive nanoparticles distributed with a varying density along a length of the nonlinear transmission line.

13. The detonator of claim 12 , wherein distribution of the conductive nanoparticles is nonlinear.

14. A method for forming a detonator, the method comprising:

providing an igniter; and

electrically connecting the igniter with a nonlinear transmission line that is configured to output a trigger signal that ignites the igniter, the nonlinear transmission line having a capacitance that varies as a function of voltage on the nonlinear transmission line, the nonlinear transmission line configured to receive a voltage pulse and compress the voltage pulse to generate the trigger signal.

15. The method of claim 14 , the igniter being one of a fuse or a bridge wire.

16. The method of claim 14 , the nonlinear transmission line comprising a variable capacitor, capacitance of the variable capacitor being based upon voltage on the variable capacitor.

17. The method of claim 16 , the variable capacitor comprising a plurality of layers of metal oxide interposed between a respective plurality of layers of dielectric material.

18. The method of claim 16 , the variable capacitor comprising a plurality of layers of ferroelectric material interposed between a respective plurality of layers of dielectric material.

19. The method of claim 16 , the variable capacitor comprising a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers arranged as concentric rings.

20. A detonator comprising:

a nonlinear transmission line that comprises a variable capacitor as a lumped element, wherein a capacitance of the variable capacitor is dependent upon voltage on the variable capacitor, the capacitance decreases as the voltage on the capacitor increases, the nonlinear transmission line configured to receive a first voltage pulse having a first amplitude and a first pulse width and output a second voltage pulse having a second amplitude and a second pulse width, the second amplitude being greater than the first amplitude and the first pulse width being greater than the second pulse width; and

an igniter that is electrically coupled to the nonlinear transmission line, the igniter configured to receive the second voltage pulse and detonate an explosive responsive to receipt of the second voltage pulse.