Further Studies on the Dissociation of HBr Behind Shock Waves

Abstract

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE: DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED LABORATORY OPERATIONSThe Laboratory Operations of The Aerospace Corporation is conducting experimental and theoretical investigations necessary for the evaluation and application of scientific advances to new military concepts and systems. 'Versatility and flexibility have been developed to a high degree by the laboratory personnel in dealing with the many problems encountered in the nation's rapidly developing space and missile systems. Expertise in the latest scientific developinents is vital to the accomplishment of tasks related to these problems. The laboratories that contribute to this research are:Aerodynamics and Propulsion Research Laboratory: Launch and reentry aerodynamics, heat transfer, reentry physics, propulsion, high -temperature chemistry and chemical kinetics, structural mechanics, flight dynamics, atmospheric pollution, and high-power gas lasers.Electronics Research Laboratory: Generation, transmission, detection, and processing of electromagnetic radiation in the terrestrial and space environments, with emphasis on the millimeter-wave, infrared, and visible portions of the spectrum; design and fabrication of antennas, complex optical systems. and photolihhographic" solid-state devices; test and development of practical superconducting detectors and laser eevices and technology, including highpower lasers, atmospheric polli tion, and biomedical prou*.ems.Materials Sciences Labo aton, Development of new materials; metal inatrix composites and new foy ms of carbon; test and evaluation of graphite and ceramics in reentry; spacecraft materials and components in radiation and high -vacuum environments; application of fracture mechanics to stress corrosion and fatigue-induced fractures in structural metals; effect of nature of material surfaces on lubrication, photosensitiztion, and catalytic reactions; and development of prosthesis devices. Plasma Research Laboratory: Reentry physics and nuclear weapons effects; the interaction of antennas with reentry plasm~a sheaths; experimentation with thermonuclear plasmas; the generation and propagation of plasma waves in the magnetosphere; chemical reactions of vibralionally excited species in rocket plumes; and high-precision laser ranging. Space Physics Laboratory: Aeronomy; density and composition of the atmosphere at all altitudes; atmospheric reactions and atmospheric optics; pollution of the environment; the sun, earth's resources; meteorological measurements; radiation belts and cosmic rays. and the effects of nuclear explosvns, magnetic storms, and solar radiation on the atmosphere, Previously reported shock tube studies of the dissociation of HBr i,. nhe temperature range of 2100-4200°K have been extended to lower temperatures (1450-2300°K) in pure HBr. The course of reaction was followed by monitoring the radiative recombination emission in the visible spectrum from Br atoms. The results imply that, in the lower range of temperatures, the activation energy of dissociation can be approximated by th...