Vibrational energy transfer in high explosives: Nitromethane
Time resolved vibrational spectroscopy with picosecond tunable mid-infrared pulses is used to measure the rates and investigate the detailed mechanisms of multiphonon up-pumping and vibrational cooling in a condensed high explosive, nitromethane. Both processes occur on the 100 ps time scale under ambient conditions. The mechanisms involve sequential climbing or descending the ladder of molecular vibrations. Efficient intermolecular vibrational energy transfer from various molecules to the symmetric stretching excitation of NO2 is observed. The implications of these measurements for understanding shock initiation to detonation and the sensitivities of energetic materials to shock initiation are discussed briefly.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Univ., Urbana, IL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 273166
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A--306362/5/XAB; CNN: Contract F49620-94-1-0108
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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