PNNL

Abstract

Exploding wires can deposit significant amounts of energy (1000’s of Joules on a nano-microsecond timescales) into a very confined space. Under the right conditions they can even produce neutrons. While most exploding wire studies have been performed in open air and to a lesser extent liquids we have started to investigate enclosing the wire element in solid matrices like concrete to mimic the effects of an underground nuclear explosion. The temperatures and pressures achieved are quite sufficient to induce structural cracking and localized flash melting in the enclosing media like a real underground nuclear detonation. As a result exploding wires would appear to form the perfect trigger for releasing confined chemical species including gases in geological media to study migration behavior in a controlled environment. Details of the apparatus and some illustrations of it potential will be given.