Rapid Transfer of Magnetic Energy by Means of Exploding Foils

Abstract

Rapid transfer of magnetic energy to an inductive load is usually done by discharging a condenser bank, but it can, in principle, also be done by using inductive storage. The problem then is how to open quickly a switch carrying a large current. Using a thin (10 μ) cylindrical foil of aluminum as a switch, energies of the order of 104 J have been transferred into an inductance of about 10−8 H in a few times 10−7 sec. An elementary theory of the explosion of the foil is presented, and it is shown to agree well with experimental results. Technical problems associated with the construction of such a fast switch can be considered solved up to an energy level of at least 100 kJ.