Detection and characterization of explosives using Raman spectroscopy: identification, laser heating, and impact sensitivity

Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be a useful tool for characterizing neat crystalline explosive samples and for identifying principle components in many propellant and explosive formulations. Recently, we have been investigating changes in Raman spectra of explosives and propellant formulations which occur as the temperature approaches the melting point of the sample. We report recent measurements of Raman spectra of explosives and propellant formulations during bulk heating, and recent measurements of laser heating of the samples during measurement of Raman spectra. The results of these measurements are important to investigators using Raman spectroscopy to measure vibrational spectra at the surface of burning propellant samples.