A Study of Exploding Wires

Citation

Turner, Ben Robert (1960) A Study of Exploding Wires. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/JER9-AS18. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-08022006-104759

Abstract

Experimental observations were made of exploding wires of different sizes and types. Explosions in air and vacuum were studied. Kerr cell pictures were taken in air and the time dependent energy imput obtained. The shock wave was photographed and compared with theoretical calculations from which estimates of other quantities were made. The time integrated spectral energy density was determined for the wave length region 2300 [angstroms] - 5500 [angstroms] for 3 mil diameter iron wire. Photographs of the exploding wires in a vacuum of 10(-5) Hg are presented and discussed. The maximum energy which could be stored was 7500 joules. Most of the experimental work was done using 3.75 microfarads charged to 40 kv with a circuit resonance frequency of 50 kc. Pictures were taken at the rate of 4 x 10(5) frames per second in most cases with exposure times of about 1/20 microsecond.

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