Threshold Arcing Characteristics for Pulsed Exploding Films

Summary form only given. The exploding film phenomenon can exhibit a restrike, which is a high temperature, optically intense, transient plasma. Because of the characteristics of this plasma, it has a variety of applications including light sources, excitation of energetic materials, Z-pinches, and compositional analysis of materials. However, the proper conditions must exist in the initial stages of the phenomenon for this restrike to occur. A theory has been developed to predict the occurrence of restrike in aluminum coated films. By analyzing the relationship between the initial current density and the electric field associated with the event, threshold conditions necessary for the occurrence of restrike can be determined. With prediction capabilities comes greater efficiency in research and development of applications for exploding films.