Spectroscopic research of underwater electrical wire explosion

Results of spectroscopic research in the visible range of light of the radiation generated by underwater electrical wire explosions (UEWE) are presented. A pulsed generator with an output voltage of similar to 110 kV, current of similar to 70 kA, and rise time of similar to 60 ns was used for electrical explosion of Cu wires 0.1 mm in diameter and 50 mm in length. It was shown that UEWE is not governed by the polarity effect, which plays an important role in electrical wire explosions in vacuum. The results of detailed space- and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements show that the radiation spectrum differs significantly of the spectrum expected from the exploding wire. A model is suggested based on the formation of a few mu m water plasma layer in the vicinity of the exploding wire plasma which efficiently absorbs the radiation of the exploding wire. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.