The possibility of increasing the velocity of solid particles accelerated b
y an explosion of a long tubular charge of a high explosive (HE) in vacuum
is analyzed. The experimental results obtained indicate that the accelerati
on velocity cannot be considerably increased. The probable causes are erosi
on of the material from the inner surface of the HE tube and a significant
decrease in the mass flow velocity when the length of the HE tube exceeds t
he optimum length.