Effect of Volume Compression on Laser Pulse Initiation Thresholds of Energetic Materials.

Energy thresholds of laser pulse initiation and kinetic characteristics of explosive decomposition of heavy metal azides (HMA), including pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and furazanotetrazine dioxide (FTDO), have been studied at different pressures of uniform compression. Samples were excited by the first harmonic of the neodymium laser (λ = 1064 nm) with the actuating pulse duration τ = 14 ns. It has been established that the sensitivity of energetic materials (EM) to the pulsed laser action increases monotonically with the pressure. Experimental results are interpreted within the framework of the hot microspot ignition theory based on the features of gas-dynamic unloading from the volume of hot spots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]