Distribution of plasma parameters upon electrical wire explosion

This paper discusses the distribution of plasma parameters upon electrical wire explosion. Information about distribution of plasma parameters was obtained from optical and radiography images. The experimental data show that expansion dynamics and homogeneity of wire-explosion products depend not only on the amount of energy deposited into the wire before the secondary breakdown but also on where the current flows after secondary breakdown. If the secondary breakdown develops inside the wire-explosion products and the energy is continuously and homogeneously deposited into the wire-explosion products, one can study the properties of plasma generated by exploded wire. However, the current also may flow in the plasma channel generated in surrounding media. Therefore, it would be impossible to study the wire-explosion plasma properties using direct experimental data. The same can be said for the case of inhomogeneous deposition of energy even when current flows inside wire-explosion products.