Matter density distribution of copper cylindrical conductors at skin explosion

Abstract

Large-scale plasma instabilities arising from the skin explosion of cylindrical copper conductors at fast rising strong magnetic fields with induction up to 400 T are studied. The experiments were carried out on a high-current MIG generator at a current amplitude of up to 2.5 MA and a rise time of 100 ns. The radial distribution of the material of the exploded conductor and the internal structure of the instabilities were studied using X-ray patterns obtained by probing with X-ray radiation formed at the X-pinch “hot spot”. The experimental data obtained can be used to verify one- and two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic models of the behavior of matter under extreme conditions.