Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The time history of the abundances of 13 nuclei and the thermodynamic
and hydrodynamic variables in the burning zone of a detonation wave
were numerically followed in detail by coupling a nuclear reaction network
to the Rankine-Hugoniot relations and accurate equations of state.
A number of computations were performed for material with initial densities
and temperatures in the range 10^9 < p < 10^11(g/cm^3) and 3 x 10^8 K,
respectively, and compositions consisting of C^12 and O^16, and O^16, Mg^24,
and Si^28. From such computations it is concluded that: (1) the nuclear
rea-tion rate doubling timescale approximation gives an accurate nuclear
burning timescale, (2) the propagation of a detonation wave fueled by
O^16 at very high densities is virtually assured, (3) the correct energy
release is obtained assuming nuclear statistical equilibrium behind the
detonation wave, and this latter assumption is good, (4) the Chapman-
Jouguet hypothesis is adequate in spite of the fact that the actual form
of the detonation wave is more likely that of a weak detonation.
and hydrodynamic variables in the burning zone of a detonation wave
were numerically followed in detail by coupling a nuclear reaction network
to the Rankine-Hugoniot relations and accurate equations of state.
A number of computations were performed for material with initial densities
and temperatures in the range 10^9 < p < 10^11(g/cm^3) and 3 x 10^8 K,
respectively, and compositions consisting of C^12 and O^16, and O^16, Mg^24,
and Si^28. From such computations it is concluded that: (1) the nuclear
rea-tion rate doubling timescale approximation gives an accurate nuclear
burning timescale, (2) the propagation of a detonation wave fueled by
O^16 at very high densities is virtually assured, (3) the correct energy
release is obtained assuming nuclear statistical equilibrium behind the
detonation wave, and this latter assumption is good, (4) the Chapman-
Jouguet hypothesis is adequate in spite of the fact that the actual form
of the detonation wave is more likely that of a weak detonation.
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