Precursor decay anomaly in single-crystal lithium fluoride

The purpose of this study is to reduce the precursor decay anomaly in single-crystal lithium fluoride (LiF) using a macroscopic approach. To this end, a method of predicting the evolving unsteady plane wave fronts created in the crystal upon impact is developed. Parameters included in modeled strain waves in the fronts are determined such that the predicted particle velocity-time history at the impact surface fits the detector current at the LiF-quartz interface measured by Asay et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 43, 2132 (1972)]. Another condition used is that the particle velocity-time histories at and near the surface are initially parallel. It is assumed that when the amplitude of a near-steady precursor in the predicted unsteady wave front, which increases from a static yield stress, becomes a maximum, a kink occurs at the rear of the precursor and then it begins to decay. The precursor decay curves estimated, based on this assumption, are much lower than Asay’s decay curve. These lower curves are expected to reduce significantly the precursor decay anomaly in this crystal.