A device and a method of heating nano- to micro-scale light absorbent particles within a flashtube designed to sequentially emit intense light, followed by an intense pressure wave. The flashtube device includes a housing and a central filament surrounded by the housing. An inner surface of the housing can be coated with light-scattering particles and/or light-absorbing particles. The filament is generally held in a superconducting state.

A device and a method of heating nano- to micro-scale light absorbent particles within a flashtube designed to sequentially emit intense light, followed by an intense pressure wave. The flashtube device includes a housing and a central filament surrounded by the housing. An inner surface of the housing can be coated with light-scattering particles and/or light-absorbing particles. The filament is generally held in a superconducting state.