Luminescence of lead azide induced by the electron accelerator pulse

Luminescence of lead azide Pb(N-3)(2) crystals in the range of 400-1000 nm is studied experimentally. As the detonation of lead azide is initiated by an electron accelerator pulse, the onset of the mechanical destruction is p receded by intensive luminescence and a rapid growth of the conductivity. T heoretical investigation of the electronic structure of a lead azide crysta l was done by means of the Hartree-Fock method for a periodic system. Detai led comparative analysis of the calculated density of states and experiment al luminescence spectrum of lead azide suggests that decomposition proceeds by a chain reaction mechanism. A model of the pre-explosive luminescence b ased on the hypothesis of the quasi-local state formation in the valence ba nd is proposed. The position of a possible energy level of the state in the valence band is predicted. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.