The dependences of the macroscopic detonation properties of a two-dimensional (2D) diatomic (AB) molecular system on the fundamental molecular properties were investigated. This includes examining the detonation velocity, reaction zone thickness, and critical width as functions of the exothermicity $\left(Q\right)$ of the gas-phase reaction $[\mathrm{AB}\to (1∕2)({\mathrm{A}}_2+{\mathrm{B}}_2)]$ and the gas-phase dissociation energy $\left(D_e^{\mathrm{AB}}\right)$ for $\mathrm{AB}\to \mathrm{A}+\mathrm{B}$. Following previous work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with a reactive empirical bond-order potential were used to characterize the shock-induced response of a diatomic AB molecular solid, which exothermically reacts to produce ${\mathrm{A}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{B}}_2$ gaseous products. Nonequilibrium MD simulations reveal that there is a linear dependence between the square of the detonation velocity and both of these molecular parameters. The detonation velocities were shown to be consistent with the Chapman–Jouguet (CJ) model, demonstrating that these dependences arise from how the equation of state of the products and reactants are affected. Equilibrium MD simulations of microcanonical ensembles were used to determine the CJ states for varying $Q$’s, and radial distribution functions characterize the atomic structure. The character of this material near the CJ conditions was found to be somewhat unusual, consisting of polyatomic clusters rather than discrete molecular species. It was also found that there was a minimum value of $Q$ and a maximum value of $D_e^{\mathrm{AB}}$ for which a pseudo-one-dimensional detonation could not be sustained. The reaction zone of this material was characterized under both equilibrium (CJ) and transient (underdriven) conditions. The basic structure is consistent with the Zeldovich–von Neumann-Döring model, with a sharp shock rise and a reaction zone that extends to $200–300\mathrm{\AA }$. The underdriven systems show a buildup process which requires an extensive time to approach equilibrium conditions. The rate stick failure diameter (critical width in 2D) was also found to depend on $Q$ and $D_e^{\mathrm{AB}}$. The dependence on $Q$ could be explained in terms of the reaction zone properties.

• Received 23 December 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.76.026318