Behavior of Exploding Gold Wires

Abstract

A square-wave generator current source was used to study the behavior of gold wires exploded by current densities in the range of 0.25×108 to 3.26×108 amp/cm2. Measurements of wire resistance vs cumulative energy and action at various current densities are compared with a simple theoretical exploding wire model and the results of Kerr cell photographic studies. Experimentally, the total energy input to the time of maximum wire resistance increases with current density and may exceed by threefold the normal vaporization energy. Also, the instantaneous wire resistance at any point is smaller with a larger current density. The resistance depression is first apparent in the region following vaporization. At higher current densities, the effect is observed to occur at progressively earlier phases up to and including the point at which melting occurs.