An exploration of the vibrational properties of amorphous energetic materials using Inelastic Neutron Scattering

This proposal seeks to measure Inelastic Neutron Scattering spectra for a series of amorphous energetic materials. The results of these experiments will provide crucial insight into the properties of amorphous energetic materials and in particular their sensitivity to initiation by mechanical impact. The experimental validation of theoretical models will offer invaluable contributions to the development of novel theoretical approaches. The development and validation of such models would be of immense value to industrial and academic efforts to produce safer materials, and the approach has the potential to revolutionise the targeted design of materials. This will also be an opportunity to train a PhD student in the theory and practice of INS spectroscopy, including subsequent analysis and interpretation of the data.