THE EARLY OPTICAL SPECTRUM AND AIRSHOCK FROM A 500-TON TNT EXPLOSION

Three photographic records were obtained by Project 1.14 on SNOW BALL two millisecond framing-camera films of the explosion and one streak film of the optical spectrum. From these records and others from small charges it was 1 deduced that the explosion light was produced largely by impurity radiation - from sodium, calcium, and cyanogen - and by forbidden O2-bands expected airshock radiation was not detected 2 derived airshock pressures in the region, roughly, 5000 to 200 psi. These derived pressures are about a factor of 2 higher than pressure-gage values. Possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed - including the possibility that the airshock and the luminosity front were not well coupled - but no satisfactory explanation was found.