The dame structure of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX) propellants under laser-assisted combustion was studied to better understand related chemical and physical processes in the gas phase. Experiments were conducted from 0.1 to 3 ATM in pressure with heat fluxes of 50 to 600 W/cm(2). Gaseous products were extracted through the use of quartz microprobes and analyzed by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (TQMS). Temperature profiles were measured using micro-thermocouple techniques to investigate reaction zones in RDX dames. Flame behavior was observed using a high-magnification video system. Major species in RDX flames were identified as H-2, H2O, HCN, H2CO, NO, HNCO, N2O, and NO2 at low masses (m/z less than or equal to 47). In addition to these species, H2CNH with m/z = 29 was found to exist in the near-surface reaction zone as an important minor species. Higher molecular weight species were found at mit values of 47, 54, 56, 70, 81, and 97; with the daughter mode operation of TQMS, they were identified as HONO, C2H2N2, C2H4N2, C2H2N2O, C3H3N3, and C3H3N3O, respectively. Increasing heat flux and decreasing pressure stretched out the reaction zones and were useful for investigating reactions near the deflagrating surface. However, the conditions appeared to have no effect on major reaction pathways. Two-stage chemical reaction pathways in the gas phase were explicitly identified from the major species profiles at ail experimental conditions. Also, the reactions of minor high-mass species occurred in the primary reaction zone. The decomposition of RDX at the surface showed evidence of the two competing branch reactions into H2CO + N2O and HCN + HONO, as well as two subsequent reactions: H2CO + N2O --> H2O + CO + N-2 and 2HONO --> H2O + NO + NO2. With the consideration of the previous four reactions, the branching ratio for the two decomposition pathways of RDX was estimated to be about 2:1. For all experimental conditions, temperature profiles had a near-surface region where temperature increased very slowly; the extent of this zone increased as the mar-surface reaction zones expanded. After this region, the temperature profiles increased to final flame temperatures without any dark zone temperature plateau. Based on comparisons of species and temperature profiles, this near-surface region is believed to be related to the consumption of NO2, production of NO and H2O, and production and consumption of high-mass species.