Metastable Fluid Decay During Electric Explosion of Metallic Foils

Abstract

Results of experimental investigations into overheated metastable fluid decay during electric explosion of metallic foils are presented. Experiments have been performed using an experimental complex consisting of three current generators, one of which provides explosion of foil and two others – X-pinch-based radiographs – are used for diagnostic purposes. The upper limit of the decay time of an overheated metastable metal is determined experimentally. For aluminum conductor with deposited energy of (5.3 ± 0.5) kJ/g, the metastable state decay time is ~110 ns; for copper foil with deposited energy of (2.4 ± 0.2) kJ/g, it is ~260 ns; and for nickel foil with deposited energy of (1.3 ± 0.3) kJ/g, it is ~350 ns.