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Title: Pulsed power driven cylindrical wire array explosions in different media

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5128720 · OSTI ID:1578160
 [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Imperial College, London (United Kingdom); Imperial College - Cornell University
  2. Imperial College, London (United Kingdom)

Cylindrical copper wire array explosions were carried out in de-ionized water, sodium polytungstate solution, nitromethane, and polyester in order to obtain high energy density conditions in the vicinity of implosion using the generated converging shock waves. The utilization of different materials in which the array is immersed can contribute to this goal with higher density resulting in higher shock velocities and possible combustion. The generated shock waves were captured by a framing and a streak camera and shock velocities were calculated and compared. Pressure behind the shock front was calculated using known hydrodynamic relations (for water, polytungstate, and polyester) and compared to two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations coupled with equations of state (for water and polyester). It was demonstrated that despite lower shock wave velocity in polytungstate solution than water, the pressures generated are similar in both materials. In polyester, both shock velocities and generated pressures are 2-4 times higher than in water. Furthermore, it was shown that it is possible to carry out these explosions in a solid which has several advantages compared to liquids, such as not relying on waterproof systems and easier transportation.

Research Organization:
Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States); Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) (SC-24)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003764; SC0018088
OSTI ID:
1578160
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1577916
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 26; ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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