Influence of current on phase transition in an exploding wire

The authors have investigated the dependence of the work done in forming a vapor nucleus on the current flowing in a wire. It is shown that the local decrease of conductivity accompanying the formation of the nucleus leads not only to slowing down of the processes of boiling or cavitation, but also to the existence of critical currents at which the liquid-vapor transition cannot be accomplished as a phase transition of the first kind. Using Van der Waals critical theory the authors compute the dependence of these critical current I_c(p) and I_c(T) on the pressure and temperature. Estimates of these currents are given for some metals.