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Energy Localization and the Initiation of Explosive Crystals by Shock or Impact

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

C. S. Coffey*
Affiliation:
Naval Surface Warfare Center, White Oak Laboratory Silver Spring, MD 20903-5000
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Abstract

The initiation of chemical reaction in explosive crystals during shock or impact is shown to be a solid state, quantum mechanical, process not accessible by a classical continuum approach. The process by which dislocations move in a solid is analyzed in terms of quantum mechanical tunneling. The motion of these dislocations significantly perturbs the lattice and creates phonons which, for low dislocation velocities can cause local ignition sites and for high dislocation velocities, can have energies sufficient to directly pump the internal vibrational modes of the explosive molecules and cause rapid molecular dissociation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1993

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