Critical initiation-energy density as a function of single-crystal size in explosive decomposition of silver azide

The dependence of the critical initiation-energy density of explosive decomposition of silver azide on the sample size was studied experimentally for the first time. The dependence of the critical energy density was found to be determined by the diffusion of the reactants to the crystal surface, where their recombination rate far exceeds the bulk rate. The diffusion coefficient and the rate constant of bulk electron-hole recombination obtained for the explosive decomposition agree within the experimental error with those determined earlier in photoconductivity studies.