Wire Explosion by Electromagnetic Induction

A conductive plasma channel in the shape of a 360^ helical arc has been realized via the mechanisms of electromagnetic induction and exploding wire (EW). This paper is focused on documenting the restrike (RS) mechanism for a wire exploded via electromagnetic induction. The apparatus is a pair of mutually coupled helical coils, which are arranged on cylindrical polyvinylchloride formers, with a capacitor bank as the energy source. Voltage and current waveforms are presented. The wire explosion by induction exhibits key features that exist in conventional wire explosion by conduction, namely, wire fragmentation, a dwell period, and RS phenomena. Exponential damping envelopes were graphically applied to distinguish between RS and non-RS outcomes of the wire explosions. Photography, visual observation, and copper oxide residue patterns also helped to determine whether an RS took place. Lichtenburg figures in the form of dust trees were found to have formed at some time during the induced EW discharge.