Observation of Detonation Wave and Shock Wave Generated by Detonation of a Silver Azide Pellet

Shimadzu Application News

No: 01-00856-EN
February 2026

HyperVision HPV-X3 Ultra High-Speed Video Camera

Observation of Detonation Wave and Shock Wave Generated by Detonation of a Silver Azide Pellet

by Fumiaki Yano, Yuki Nishikawa

User Benefits:

• The Shimadzu HyperVision HPV-X3 has a maximum framerate of 20 Mfps and is particularly well-suited to observation of high-speed phenomena such as detonation waves and shock waves.
• The HPV-X3 provides 3 times higher resolution than the conventional high-speed video camera, enabling detailed observation.
• Since the image sensor of HPV-X3 is burst-type, the HPV-X3 enables recording with constant resolution, regardless of the recording speed.

Equipment: 

1. Shimadzu HyperVision HPV-X3 ultra high-speed video camera
2. Pulsed laser illumination

Introduction

One example of the uses of silver azide (AgN₃) pellet is application of silver azide explosive charges in the medical field to disintegrate kidney and bladder stones. However, in recent years, silver azide has also been used as a technique for clarifying explosion phenomena. Silver azide pellet detonates by a laser. In the experiment described here, the detonation wave and shock wave generated by detonation of a silver azide pellet were observed using the newly-developed Shimadzu HyperVision HPV-X3 high-speed video camera.

In comparison with the conventional model, the recording speed (framerate) of the HPV-X3 is 2 times faster. Thus, the HPV-X3 is suitable for observation of high-speed phenomena such as detonation waves and shock waves. The resolution of the new HPV-X3 is also 3 times higher, supporting detailed observation.

The authors wish to thank Specially Appointed Associate Professor Kiyonobu Ohtani of the Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University.