Abstract:
This paper presents an analytical criterion of ignition of condensed explosives by a short laser pulse with a Gaussian energy distribution over the beam cross section taking into account the temperature dependence of the absorption coefficient. The dependence of the critical ignition energy density on the beam radius is due to the radial component of heat release from the reaction volume. Estimates of the critical energy density of the laser pulse by this criterion are consistent with the results of numerical solution of the heat-conduction equation.