Generation of cumulative jets during underwater explosion of copper wires in the “X-pinch” configuration

Abstract

The results of experiments with underwater electrical explosion of 0.1 mm diameter copper wires in X-pinch configuration are presented. A pulsed generator producing a ∼30 kA-amplitude current with a ∼65 ns rise time was used for the explosion of the wires. Shadowgraph and shearing interferometry techniques were applied for optical diagnostics. Evidence of fast-moving copper jets, originating from the location of the intersection of the exploding wires, is reported. Simultaneous measurement of the expansion of the wires, shock waves, and copper jets showed that the dynamics of the jets strongly resemble the classic problem of a collision of two planes, producing two consecutive cumulative jets.