Investigation of explosive decomposition of heavy metal azides by radiation physics methods

Experimental apparatus complex construction for the investigation of explosive decomposition of heavy metal azides (HMA) at real time is described. New phenomena: pre-explosive conductivity and pre-explosive luminescence of HMA are reported in detail. Silver azide pre-explosive conductivity value obtained is considered as direct experimental evidence for the chain nature of the process involved. In terms of the data obtained a model of the explosive decomposition has been developed. According to the model the multiplication of active particles (holes) corresponds to first-order reaction while the breaking of a chain corresponds the second-order reaction