Simulations of the Evolution of the Heterophase Electrode of a Vacuum Transmission Line During the Passage of a High Current Pulse

Abstract— In electromagnetic generators of the terawatt range with current pulse of 1–30 MA, electric explosion of the surface of current-carrying electrodes takes place. One of the options for protecting the electrodes is covering the current-carrying surface with different materials. In this work, we present experimental data and results of numerical simulations of the processes that take place in a thick-walled heterophase electrode during the passage of current with a high linear density. The amplitude value of the linear current density in the simulations was of 2.8 MA/cm. The results of the simulations of the processes that occur in the electrodes during the passage of current with high linear density are in qualitative agreement with experimental data.