In this work, experiments have been performed to measure the detonation velocities and characteristic cell sizes in the dimethyl ether (DME) fuel-oxygen mixtures. Equilibrium calculation and detailed chemical kinetics modeling of the ZND structure of detonations are also carried out to investigate the detonation characteristics of DME. Detonation cell sizes estimated using a correlation model by Ng et al. [Ng HD, Ju Y, Lee JHS. Assessment of detonation hazards in high-pressure hydrogen storage from chemical sensitivity analysis. IntJ Hydrogen Energy 2007;32:93-99] are in good agreement with experimental data. It is found that the cell size values for DME-oxygen mixtures are comparable to those of propane or ethane fuels. At low initial pressure, double cell like detonation structures have been observed in all equivalence ratios considered in this study. Chemical kinetic results reveal that DME oxidation under detonation environment exhibits similarly a two-stage heat release process inside the reaction zone. This effect may play a significant role in the existence and scaling of the multi-cell detonation pattern in stoichiometric and fuel-rich DME mixtures. On the lean side, multiple cells appear to be caused primarily by the strong intrinsic instability of the unsteady detonation front. The present experimental results and chemical kinetic sensitivity analyses provide some basic information to assess detonation hazards in DME-based mixtures. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.