Simulating the effects of underground nuclear explosions with an exploding wire

Exploding wires can deposit significant amounts of energy on nS-mu S timescales into a confined space. Most exploding wire studies have been performed in air but we have started to investigate enclosing the wire element in solid matrices like concrete to mimic the effects of an underground nuclear explosion. Temperatures and pressures achieved are quite sufficient to induce structural cracking and localized flash melting. As a result exploding wires would appear to form the perfect trigger for releasing chemical species in geological media to study migration behavior. Details of the apparatus and some illustrations of its potential will be given.