The Shock Wave Physics Group (SWPG) at McGill University is directed by Prof. J. H. S. Lee and has a long history of the study of high-speed turbulent deflagration and detonation phenomena. Current research work includes the initiation of detonation, the transition from deflagration to detonation, detonation propagation in nonideal heterogeneous condensed-phase explosives, and combustion synthesis and dust combustion in microgravity.
The laboratory facilities of the SWPG are comprised of the following individual labs with principal equipment noted:
1. High-speed photographic lab
- Color schlieren optical setup
- Spectra-Physics Ar-ion laser with cavity dumper (1 MHz pulse rate)
- 2 Streak cameras (0.6 mm/µs and 2.4 mm/µs maximum writing rates)
- Krasnoyarsk streak/framing camera (25,000 frames/s)
- Cordin 192 high-speed framing camera (1,000,000 frames/s)
- 2 Hycam framing cameras (5,000 frames/s)
- LeCroy digital oscilloscope (100 MHz)
- Xenon flash lamp
- Short-duration spark-gap light source
2. Combustion Synthesis Lab
- High-pressure reaction vessel
- LeCroy digital oscilloscope (100 MHz)
- Microgravity combustion synthesis apparatus
3. Shock Tube Lab
- PC-based data acquistion system
- Various shock and detonation tubes
- 1-m dia combustion vessel
- LeCroy digital oscilloscope (100 MHz)
4. Dust Combustion Lab
- PC-based data acquisition system
- 2 combustion chambers
- dust-burner apparatus
- microgravity dust-flame apparatus
- vertical shock/detonation tube
- LeCroy digital oscilloscopes (100 MHz)
5. Molten Metal-Water Interaction Lab
- "water-cannon" apparatus
- Scandia flash X-ray system
- Cordin Dynafax framing camera (35,000 frames/s)
6. SWPG Computer Room
- 4 Macs and 1 PC connected with a server
- HP workstation
- scanner, digital video system
7. Combustion Chamber Lab (under construction)
- medium scale blast chamber
- LeCroy oscilloscope (100 MHz)
- High-frequency Tocco levitation induction furnace
- Low-frequency Tocco induction furnace