An experimental technique has been developed [6, 7] for measuring the spatial distribution of the electrical conductivity behind a detonation front with a resolution of about 0.1 mm. In the present article an explanation is offered for nonequilibrium ionization in the reaction zones of PETN and Hexogen based on the coincidence of the zones of high electrical conductivity and the chemical reaction zones observed in these materials [6, 7]. The anomalously high [1] conductivity in detonating TNT suggests a special conduction mechanism for it. In the present article we establish the propagation properties of the electrical conductivity behind a detonation front in TNT and, based on these properties, we offer an explanation for the high degree of ionization as due to thermal emission of electrons from carbon pa~:ticles formed during detonation of TNT. Another possible explanation is associated with contact electrical conduction in the presence of carbon particles. 1. The electrical conductivity behind a detonation wave in TNT was measured in the manner described in [1]. An explosive charge was placed inside a steel cylinder with outer and inner diameters of 30 and 7 mm and a length of 120 mm. The size of the TNT particles was 0.1-0.5 mm and the density of the charge was 1.0 g/cm 3. The detonation velocity, D, was measured by closing of contacts by the detonation wave. With the initiator system used the stationary detonation regime was reached after the front passed the first 50-60 mm of the charge. In this regime D = 4.4 0.1 km/sec. A steel or copper electrode (probe) was inserted along the axis of the discharge from the end of the charge. The resistance, R, between the probe and the shell around the charge was measured as a function of the time after the detonation wave comes into contact with the probe. The conductivity of the sample, Y = l/R, is plotted as a function of the penetration depth, l = Dt, of the probe into the detonation wave in Fig. 1. Probes of different length were used; that is, the position of the tip of the probe was varied along the axis o2 the explosive charge. This did not affect the variation in the curve YC/) for/~10 mm (t- 10 mm, Y continues to increase more slowly, the longer the probe. This is due to more rapid expansion of the detonation products as the probe approaches the accelerating portion. Estimating the conductivity from the plot of Y(/), we have u = 4.2 (~2. cm) -1 at a distance of 0-2 mm behind the wavefront and 1.7 (~2. cm)' t at a distance of 2-10 ram. The current flow along the axis of the charge determines the resolution of the method: on the order of the radius of the charge (3.5 mm). Thus, the first value is somewhat excessive. The arrangement described in [6, 7] was used to measure the electrical conductivity in the chemical reaction zone. The shell around the explosive charge consisted of two identical coaxial steel cylinders separated by an insert made of polymethyl methacrylate and connected by a wire. The probe is located on the axis of the charge. Initialiy, the detonation wave propagated along the charge inside the first cylinder, and at some later time, having passed the insert, it crossed to the second. When this happened a current developed from the probe to the second cylinder which then passed through the wire connecting the parts of the shell. The time