PETN detonation initiated by a high-power electron beam

Abstract

We have studied for the first time the physicochemical processes developed in pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) under the action of a pulsed electron beam in a broad range of the beam power densities. Data on the pulsed cathodoluminescence spectrum and kinetics, explosive optical emission kinetics, and thresholds of the mechanical fracture and explosive decomposition of PETN are presented.