Electromagnetic field effects in explosives

Present and previous research on the effects of electromagnetic fields on the initiation and detonation of explosives and the electromagnetic properties of explosives are reviewed. Among the topics related to detonating explosives are: measurements of conductivity; enhancement of performance; and control of initiation and growth of reaction. Hayes...()$^{1}$ showed a strong correlation of peak electrical conductivity with carbon content of the detonation products. Ershov.......$^{2}$ linked detailed electrical conductivity measurements with reaction kinetics and this work was extended to enhance detonation performance electrically;...$^{3}$ for this, electrical power densities of the order of 100~TW/m$^{2}$ of explosive surface normal to the detonation front were required. However, small electrical powers are required to affect the initiation and growth of reaction.......$^{4,5}$ A continuation of this work will be reported. {\{}LA-UR 09-00873{\}} .$^{1 }$B. Hayes, \textit{Procs. of 4th Symposium (International) on Detonation} (1965), p. 595. $^{2 }$A. Ershov, P. Zubkov, and L. Luk'yanchikov, Combustion, Explosion, and Shock Waves \textbf{10,} 776-782 (1974). $^{3 }$M. Cowperthwaite, \textit{Procs. 9th Detonation Symposium} (1989), p. 388-395. $^{4 }$M. A. Cook and T. Z. Gwyther, ``Influence of Electric Fields on Shock to Detonation Transition,'' (1965). $^{5 }$D. Salisbury, R. Winter, and L. Biddle, \textit{Procs. of the APS Topical Conference on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter} (2005) p. 1010-1013.