Electromagnetic enhanced ignition
Abstract
Here, we investigate how EM radiation affects the thermal decomposition pathway in HMX. The experiment used an external heat source (CO2 laser) to rapidly heat the surface of HMX and observe the response upon application of EM energy that, on its own, is not enough power to induce heating or ignition. We hypothesize that charged intermediate decomposition species and free radicals in the gas phase interact strongly with EM energy, leading to plasma formation. These gas phase species form as a result of HMX sublimation and decomposition, and will act as “virtual antennas” and strongly couple to EM energy. The rapid absorption of EM energy during this coupling event is observed in the measured reflected power data. Ignition and plasma formation were monitored using both visible and IR photodiode probes, as well as imaged using a high-speed video camera. These observations support the hypothesis that the presence of an EM field will perturb the thermal decomposition pathway of HMX, and cause ignition to occur at a lower temperature than what is predicted under typical thermal conditions. This intense interaction results in electrically excited molecules that propagate the energy and surpass the activation barrier for ignition before the predicted ignition temperaturemore »
- Authors:
-
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1460630
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1396730
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-16-28948
Journal ID: ISSN 0010-2180
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396; LA-UR-16-28948; Sandia
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Combustion and Flame
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 181; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0010-2180
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; Explosives; Plasma; Electromagnetic energy; Ignition; Decomposition; Microwaves
Citation Formats
Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham, and Perry, William Lee. Electromagnetic enhanced ignition. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013.
Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham, & Perry, William Lee. Electromagnetic enhanced ignition. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013
Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham, and Perry, William Lee. Thu .
"Electromagnetic enhanced ignition". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1460630.
@article{osti_1460630,
title = {Electromagnetic enhanced ignition},
author = {Duque, Amanda Lynn Higginbotham and Perry, William Lee},
abstractNote = {Here, we investigate how EM radiation affects the thermal decomposition pathway in HMX. The experiment used an external heat source (CO2 laser) to rapidly heat the surface of HMX and observe the response upon application of EM energy that, on its own, is not enough power to induce heating or ignition. We hypothesize that charged intermediate decomposition species and free radicals in the gas phase interact strongly with EM energy, leading to plasma formation. These gas phase species form as a result of HMX sublimation and decomposition, and will act as “virtual antennas” and strongly couple to EM energy. The rapid absorption of EM energy during this coupling event is observed in the measured reflected power data. Ignition and plasma formation were monitored using both visible and IR photodiode probes, as well as imaged using a high-speed video camera. These observations support the hypothesis that the presence of an EM field will perturb the thermal decomposition pathway of HMX, and cause ignition to occur at a lower temperature than what is predicted under typical thermal conditions. This intense interaction results in electrically excited molecules that propagate the energy and surpass the activation barrier for ignition before the predicted ignition temperature of the bulk sample has been reached. In conclusion, understanding the decomposition of energetic materials under the influence of EM energy is important to understand and predict material response under a variety of environmental conditions.},
doi = {10.1016/j.combustflame.2017.03.013},
journal = {Combustion and Flame},
number = C,
volume = 181,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
Web of Science
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Effect of Airflow Temperature on the Formation of Initial Flame Kernel and the Propagation Characteristics of Flame
journal, December 2018
- Li, Jianzhong; Chen, Jian; Yuan, Li
- International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 2018