Influence of laser wavelength on the critical energy density for initiation of energetic materials

Critical densities of the energy of laser initiation of PETN containing nanoscale aluminum inclusions at radiation wavelengths of 1064 and 532 nm were measured experimentally. The critical initiation-energy density that corresponds to a 50%th probability of explosion was 1.15 J/cm² for the first harmonic of a neodymium laser and 0.7 J/cm² for the second. The dependence of the efficiency of radiation absorption by aluminum on the size of metal nanoparticles for the first and second harmonics of a neodymium laser is calculated. It is shown that the particle diameter corresponding to the absorption efficiency maximum and the amplitude of the maximum depend on the radiation wavelength. The absorption efficiency maximum for the first harmonic is observed in an inclusion 204 nm in diameter, and for the second, in an inclusion 96 nm in diameter. The amplitude of the maximum increases from 0.351 at a wavelength of 1064 nm to 0.490 at a wavelength of 532 nm. Dependences of the critical initiation energy density for energetic materials on the radius of metallic nanoparticles are calculated. Qualitative agreement between theoretical and experimental results is shown.