Two-dimensional field diffusion and magnetohydrodynamic flow in an electric explosion of a miniature single-turn solenoid in a megagauss magnetic field

Experimental and numerical studies are reported of high-temperature magnetohydrodynamic flows occurring in the explosion of miniature single-turn solenoids in an ultrastrong pulsed magnetic field with an amplitude of 300-400 T and a risetime of about 100 mu s. Experiments with exploding single-turn solenoids (wall thickness of the order of 1 mm) using pulsed x-ray photography have revealed that the onset of deformation of the solenoid is delayed in fields up to 300-350 T and the initial geometric factor of the coil remains the same during the time taken by the current to rise to its maximum value. These phenomena are described for the first time in terms of the standard interpretation of the strength of a metal within the two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow model with finite conductivity. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.