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Simulating the effects of underground nuclear explosions with an exploding wire

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Abstract

Exploding wires can deposit significant amounts of energy on nS–µS timescales into a confined space. Most exploding wire studies have been performed in air but we have started to investigate enclosing the wire element in solid matrices like concrete to mimic the effects of an underground nuclear explosion. Temperatures and pressures achieved are quite sufficient to induce structural cracking and localized flash melting. As a result exploding wires would appear to form the perfect trigger for releasing chemical species in geological media to study migration behavior. Details of the apparatus and some illustrations of its potential will be given.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC05-75RLO1830. The views, opinions and findings contained within this paper are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official position, policy or decision of the DOE unless designated by other documentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, 99352, USA

    Martin Liezers, April J. Carman & Gregory C. Eiden

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  1. Martin Liezers
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  2. April J. Carman
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  3. Gregory C. Eiden
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Correspondence to Martin Liezers.

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Liezers, M., Carman, A.J. & Eiden, G.C. Simulating the effects of underground nuclear explosions with an exploding wire. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 318, 79–87 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6047-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6047-2

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