Composite wire plasma formation and evolution

Spielman, R.B.

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: Wires;    Plasma Diagnostics;    70 Plasma Physics And Fusion Technology;    Metals;    Plasma Production;   

DOI  :  10.2172/750244
RP-ID  :  SAND99-3191
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  750244

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The detailed understanding of the formation and evolution of plasma from rapidly heated metallic wires is a long-standing challenge in the field of plasma physics and in exploding wire engineering. This physical process is made even more complicated if the wire material is composed of a number of individual layers. The authors have successfully developed both optical and x-ray backlighting diagnostics. In particular, the x-ray backlighting technique has demonstrated the capability for quantitative determination of the plasma density over a wide range of densities. This diagnostic capability shows that the process of plasma formation is composed of two separate phases: first, current is passed through a cold wire and the wire is heated ohmically, and, second, the heated wire evolves gases that break down and forms a low-density plasma surrounding the wire.