Ultrafast photodissociation dynamics of HMX and RDX from their excited electronic states via femtosecond laser pump-probe techniques

NO is the only observed excited state photodissociation decomposition product of gas phase RDX/HMX. It is detected within the timescale of our femtosecond laser indicating the dynamics occur within 100 fs. Possible decomposition mechanisms are loss of an oxygen followed by loss of NO and R-N-NO2 isomerization preceding loss of NO.