Dynamics of large-scale instabilities in conductors electrically exploded in strong magnetic fields

The growth of large-scale instabilities during the propagation of a nonlinear magnetic diffusion wave through a conductor was studied experimentally. The experiment was carried out using the MIG terawatt pulsed power generator at a peak current up to 2.5 MA with 100 ns rise time. It was observed that instabilities with a wavelength of 150 μm developed on the surface of the conductor hollow part within 160 ns after the onset of current flow, whereas the surface of the solid rod remained almost unperturbed. A system of equations describing the propagation of a nonlinear diffusion wave through a conductor and the growth of thermal instabilities has been solved numerically. It has been revealed that the development of large- scale instabilities is obviously related to the propagation of a nonlinear magnetic diffusion wave.