Mass spectroscopy study of products from exposure of cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine single crystals to KrF excimer laser radiation

We report mass spectroscopic measurements of the charged particle, neutral, and excited neutral species emitted from the irradiation of single-crystal cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (RDX) with 248-nm, 20-ns laser pulses. At laser fluences above 5 mJ/cm2 we observe RDX decomposition products of relatively small mass in both neutral and ionic states. With increasing fluence we see clear etching of the crystal, an increase in kinetic energy of the products, and the appearance of an intense, excited neutral species which we identify as NO in an energetic, long-lived electronic excited state. Evidence is also presented for a sustained decomposition reaction ignited by the laser pulse.