Laser-induced ignition of single crystals of the secondary explosive cyclotrimethylene trinitramine

The interaction of laser radiation from a Nd/glass laser with single crystals of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) secondary explosive and RDX slices (cleaved from larger crystals of RDX) has been studied by high-speed framing photography with microsecond interframe times. Decomposition and deflagration were recorded following ignition at localized regions or ‘‘hot spots.’’