Detonation's a process of combustion in which a supersonic shock wave's propagated through a fluid due to an energy release in a reaction zone. It's the more powerful of the two general classes of combustion, the other one being deflagration. In a detonation, the shock compresses the material thus increasing the temperature to the point of ignition. The ignited material burns behind the shock and releases energy that supports the shock propagation. This self-sustained detonation wave's differen… (More on Detonation)