Characterization of laser-induced plasmas as a complement to high-explosive large-scale detonations

Journal Article · 12 September 2017 · AIP Advances

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4999793 · OSTI ID:1417606

Kimblin, Clare  ^[1]; Trainham, Rusty ^[1]; Capelle, Gene A. ^[1]; Mao, Xianglei ^[2]; Russo, Richard E. ^[2]

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1. National Security Technologies, LLC. (NSTec), Santa Barbara, NV (United States). Special Technologies Lab.
2. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Experimental investigations into the characteristics of laser-induced plasmas indicate that LIBS provides a relatively inexpensive and easily replicable laboratory technique to isolate and measure reactions germane to understanding aspects of high-explosive detonations under controlled conditions. Furthermore, we examine spectral signatures and derived physical parameters following laser ablation of aluminum, graphite and laser-sparked air as they relate to those observed following detonation of high explosives and as they relate to shocked air. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) reliably correlates reactions involving atomic Al and aluminum monoxide (AlO) with respect to both emission spectra and temperatures, as compared to small- and large-scale high-explosive detonations. Atomic Al and AlO resulting from laser ablation and a cited small-scale study, decay within ~10 ^-5 s, roughly 100 times faster than the Al and AlO decay rates (~10 ^-3 s) observed following the large-scale detonation of an Al-encased explosive. Temperatures and species produced in laser-sparked air are compared to those produced with laser ablated graphite in air. With graphite present, CN is dominant relative to N ₂ ⁺ . Thus, in studies where the height of the ablating laser's focus was altered relative to the surface of the graphite substrate, CN concentration was found to decrease with laser focus below the graphite surface, indicating that laser intensity is a critical factor in the production of CN, via reactive nitrogen.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); National Security Technologies, LLC., Las Vegas, NV (United States). Nevada National Security Site
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (NA-22)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231; AC52-06NA25946
• OSTI ID: 1417606
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1389666; OSTI ID: 1542897
• Report Number(s): DOE/NV/-25946-3303; ark:/13030/qt1z86p3mk; TRN: US1801066
• Journal Information: AIP Advances, Vol. 7, Issue 9; ISSN 2158-3226
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English