Thermal reaction of a molecule by exposing it to a short thermal shock at high temperature, usually in the gas phase.
Sources:
PAC, 1993, 65, 2405. 'Nomenclature and terminology for analytical pyrolysis (IUPAC Recommendations 1993)' on page 2407 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199365112405)
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1115 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)