Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1973

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

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.

Extent

97 p.

Comments

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1973.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1973.

Identifier

FADT13559

Format

pdf

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