Kinetic Modeling Study of the Laser-Induced Plasma Plume of Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX)

Abstract

A kinetic model of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) plume of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) was developed for the analysis of processes responsible for the LIBS signature of explosives. Air and argon were considered as buffer gases. The model includes a set of processes involving ion chemistry, as well as excitation, ionization, and other processes affecting neutral and ion species. Modeling results show that the overall reaction process can be considered a two-stage process. The first stage corresponds to a fast approach to a quasi-stationary state, while the second stage corresponds to the change of quasi-stationary species concentrations due to the change in temperature. As a result of the two-stage process, the initial mechanism of explosive decomposition is not important in determining its signature in the LIBS measurement time window (1-30 (mu)s). The main processes responsible for generation of excited states for the LIBS emission are electron-excitation impact processes. A mechanism for the appearance of a double peak of the C2 species concentration in the RDX plasma plume was suggested. Double-peak behavior of the C2 species was previously experimentally observed during laser ablation of graphite.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA519685

Entities

People

  • A. W. Miziolek
  • C. A. Munson
  • F. C. Delucia Jr.
  • J. L. Gottfried
  • M. J. Nusca
  • P. J. Dagdigian
  • V. I. Babushok

Organizations

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Compounds
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Chemistry
  • Decomposition
  • Detection
  • Dissociation
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Energetic Materials
  • Explosives
  • High Temperature
  • Ionization
  • Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
  • Lasers
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Rdx

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Rocket Propulsion.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics