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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Characterization of Nanocrystal Size Distribution using Raman Spectroscopy with a Multi-particle Phonon Confinement Model
Published on: August 22, 2015
Raman spectra of shock compressed pentaerythritol tetranitrate single crystals: anisotropic response
N Hemmi1, Z A Dreger, Y A Gruzdkov
1Department of Physics and Institute for Shock Physics, Washington State University, Pullman, 99164-2816, USA.
Abstract:
To gain insight into the anisotropic sensitivity of shocked pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) single crystals, single-pulse Raman spectroscopy was used to examine the response of crystals shocked along the [100] (insensitive) and [110] (sensitive) orientations. High-resolution Raman spectra revealed several orientation-dependent features under shock compression: (i) substantially different stress dependence of the Raman shift for the CH(2) and NO(2) stretching modes for the two orientations, (ii) discontinuity in the stress dependence of the Raman shift for the CH(2) stretching modes above 4 GPa for the [110] orientation, and (iii) large broadening for the CH(2) and NO(2) asymmetric stretching modes for stresses above 4 GPa for the [110] orientation. The present data in combination with previous static pressure results provide support for conformational changes in PETN molecules for shock compression along the [110] (sensitive) orientation. Implications of the present results for the anisotropic sensitivity of shocked PETN are discussed.
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