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U.S. Department of Energy
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AN EXPLODING WIRE AS A FUSE FOR THE LASL CAPACITOR BANK-ZEUS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4235025
An exploding copper wire, one millimeter in diameter, 30 centimeters long, was developed as a fuse component for a Los Alamos capacitor energy source to be employed in controlled thermonuclear research studies. The fuse allows the passage of the high normal duty action (13,700 ampere-coulombs per capacitor) at a 20-second repetition rate. However, it interrupts the circuit to a shorted capacitor in 12 microseconds, thereby protecting the faulted capacitor from explosive energy consumption. The initial phase of the development included observations of various metals (copper, silver, iron, and nickel) as well as various configurations (straight wires, helixes, foils, and tubes). Direct scaling of previous small exploding wire studies at Sandia Corporation was demonstrated with scaling factors up to 700,000. (auth)
Research Organization:
Sandia Corp., Albuquerque, N. Mex.
NSA Number:
NSA-13-021012
OSTI ID:
4235025
Report Number(s):
SC-4324(TR)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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