Editing Electrothermal-chemical technology (section)

=== Flashboard large area emitter ===
Flashboards run in several parallel strings to provide a large area of plasma or ultraviolet radiation and uses the breakdown and vaporization of gaps of diamonds to produce the required plasma.  These parallel strings are mounted in tubes and oriented to have their gaps azimuthal to the tube's axis. It discharges by using high pressure air to move air out of the way.<ref>Diamond, ''Electro Thermal Chemical Gun Technology Study'', pp.11-12</ref>  FLARE initiators can ignite propellants through the release of plasma, or even through the use of ultraviolet heat radiation.<ref>Diamond, ''Electro Thermal Chemical Gun Technology Study'', pp.13-15</ref>   The absorption length of a solid propellant is sufficient to be ignited by radiation from a plasma source.  However, FLARE has most likely not reached optimal design requirements and further understanding of FLARE and how it works is completely necessary to ensure the evolution of the technology.  If FLARE provided the XM291 gun project with the sufficient radiative heat to ignite the propellant to achieve a muzzle energy of 17 MJ one could only imagine the possibilities with a fully developed FLARE plasma igniter.  Current areas of study include how plasma will affect the propellant through radiation, the deliverance of mechanical energy and heat directly and by driving gas flow.  Despite these daunting tasks FLARE has been seen as the most plausible igniter for future application on ETC guns.<ref>For further technical information on FLARE ''see:'' P. Diamond</ref>