Electrical explosion an implosion of conductors takes place when high density impulse current flows through them (current density is in the order of 10"1-104 kA/mm2). In these conditions, Joule heat which is emitted, and electrodynamic forces working upon conductor have such high values that deformation and/or disintegration of conductor take place within a very short time (in the order of 10"2-103 ?s). Deformation and disintegration of conductor may take on various forms. The basic difference between electrical explosion of conductor (EC) and electrical implosion of conductor (IC) is that, in EC, deformation of conductor or movement of disintegration debris is directed away from conductor axis (expansion), while in IC deformation or movement of disintegration debris is directed towards conductor axis (compression). Expansion or compression is determined by relations between thermodynamic pressure in conductor, resulting from the process of its heating, and magnetic pressure appearing during flow of impulse current. The course of physical effects taking place during EC and IC depend greatly on the rate at which energy is delivered to conductor. A measure of this rate can be maximum current density j,,, obtained in conductor [189]. After a certain value of current density j,,, is exceeded, EC and IC processes are accompanied by effects that show much similarity to classical explosion of high explosive material, especially intensive sound and light waves. Due to identical causes and character of the phenomena, this elaboration takes into consideration situations in which EC and IC are explosive, as well as those where they are not. The term ?explosion" is used for describing both of these situations, as such a term has been accepted all over the world in literature treating the topic.
EC research has a long history, reaching back to 1773 [272,312]. The first applications of EC as fuses began in the late XIX century. Since the 20's of the XX century, EC has been more broadly studied and applied. Research on IC began in the 40's of the XX century. This research regarded generation of high temperature plasma and compression of magnetic field. It is these applications that, to a large degree, determined the intensification of IC research. In electrical engineering, the application that intensified EC research were fuses. An especially intensive period of development of EC and IC research began in the 60's.

Spis treści: 

Important symbols and notation

1. INTRODUCTION

2. ELECTRICAL EXPLOSION OF CONDUCTORS 
2.1. Introduction 
2.2. Current in and voltage traces across the conductor 
2.3. Factors influencing the course of EC 
2.3.1. Introduction 
2.3.2. Influence of the testing circuit 
2.3.3. Influence of conductor material and shape 
2.3.4. Influence of the surrounding environment 
2.4. Types of conductor disintegration 
2.4.1. Introduction 
2.4.2. Conditions for the occurrence of various types of disintegration of the conductors and classification of disintegrations 
2.4.3. Physical effects in conductors impulse-heated with Joule heat 
2.4.4. Hypotheses of mechanisms of conductor disintegration 
2.4.4.1. Introduction 
2.4.4.2. Unduloid hypothesis 
2.4.4.3. Magneto-thermoelastic vibration hypothesis 
2.4.4.4. MHD vibration hypothesis 
2.4.4.5. Vibrational disintegration hypothesis 
2.4.4.6. Arc-pinch effect hypothesis 
2.4.4.7. Electrothermal disintegration hypothesis 
2.4.4.8. Electro-thermo-hydrodynamic disintegration hypothesis 
2.4.4.9. Hypotheses of transverse disintegration 
2.4.5. Summary 
2.5. Mathematical models of physical effects 
2.5.1. Introduction 
2.5.2. OD models of physical effects 
2.5.3. MHD models of EC 
2.5.3.1. Model of ETHD striated EC disintegration 
2.5.3.1.1. Mathematical formulation of the problem 
2.5.3.1.2. Methods of solution 
2.5.3.1.3. Calculations results and conclusions 
2.5.3.1.4. Summary 
2.5.3.2. Models of transverse EC disintegration 
2.5.2.2.1. General equations of model 
2.5.3.2.2. EC during us 
2.5.3.2.3. EC during ns 
2.5.3.2.4. By-passing discharges of EC 
2.5.4. Summary

3. ELECTRICAL IMPLOSION OF CONDUCTORS 
3.1. Introduction 
3.2. The effect of impulse magnetic field on cylindrical conducting layer 
3.2.1. Static and dynamic strength of cylindrical layer 
3.2.2. Motion and wave effects 
3.3. Effects in liner in z-implosion and 9-implosion arrangements 
3.4. Pinch arrangements 
3.4.1. Introduction 
3.4.2. Z-pinch arrangements 
3.4.2.1. Introduction 
3.4.2.2. Single wire or dielectric fibre 
3.4.2.3. Thin-walled cylindrical conductors 
3.4.2.4. Wires array 
3.4.2.5. C-pinch arrangement 
3.4.2.6. X-pinch arrangement 
3.4.3. S-pinch arrangement 
3.4.4. Stability of pinch arrangements 
3.4.5. Mathematical models of pinch arrangements 
3.4.5.1. Introduction 
3.4.5.2. OD models of pinch 
3.4.5.3. ID and 2D models of pinch 
3.5. Summary

4. TEST CIRCUITS 
4.1. Introduction 
4.2. Capacity impulse generators 
4.3. Inductive impulse generators 
4.4. Hybrid impulse generators 
4.5. Homopolar generator and capacitor battery 
4.5.1. Homopolar generator 
4.5.2. Accumulator battery 
4.6. Summary

5. RESEARCH METHODS 
5.1. Introduction 
5.2. Measurements of voltage and current 
5.3. High-speed photography 
5.4. High-speed X-ray photography 
5.5. High-speed spectroscopy 
5.6. Measurements of visible and X-ray radiation 
5.7. Temperature measurements 
5.8. Examining shock waves 
5.9. Measurements of pressure 
5.10. Measurements of impulse magnetic field

6. PROPERTIES OF METALS AT HIGH ENERGY DENSITIES 
6.1. Introduction 
6.2. Equations of state 
6.2.1. Solid phase 
6.2.2. Liquid phase 
6.2.3. Gas phase 
6.2.4. Ionisation and thermodynamic parameters of plasma 
6.3. Phase transitions 
6.3.1. Melting 
6.3.2. Evaporation 
6.3.3. Thermodynamic stability of overheated liquid 
6.4. Transfer factors 
6.4.1. Conductivity and thermal conductivity of solid and liquid phase 
6.4.2. Conductivity and thermal conductivity of gas phase 
6.4.3. Viscosity 
6.5. Specific heat 
6.6. Thermionic emission, self-emission and radiation

7. APPLICATIONS OF EXPLODING CONDUCTORS IN PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY 
7.1. Introduction 
7.2. Fuses 
7.3. Fuse opening switches in impulse current generators 
7.4. Initiation of discharges 
7.5. Generation of high-voltage impulses 
7.6. Acceleration of plasma and solid bodies of small mass 
7.7. Generation of dense plasma 
7.8. Light sources 
7.9. Detonators 
7.10. Electro-explosive sheet metal formation 
7.11. Sprinkling thin layers of metal 
7.12. Research of properties of matter in extreme, dynamic conditions 
 
8. APPLICATION OF IMPLODING CONDUCTORS IN PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY 
8.1. Introduction 
8.2. Generation of dense, high temperature plasma, and its applications 
8.3. Compression of magnetic field 
8.4. Examination of properties of matter in extreme, dynamic conditions 
8.5. Electrodynamic sheet metal forming

9. CONTRIBUTION OF POLISH SCIENTISTS INTO EC AND IC RESEARCH 
9.1. EC research 
9.2. IC research

10. CLOSING REMARKS

References