Formation of extended directional breakdown channels produced by a copper wire exploding in the atmosphere

Experimental data for switching initiated by the electrical breakdown of air gaps up to 1.9 m long with an arbitrary geometry that are produced by an exploding copper wire 90 μm in diameter are presented. At an initial voltage of 11 kV, the stored energy equals 100–2100 J. Two channel formation conditions are possible: explosion of a wire without electrical breakdown and electrical breakdown in a channel produced by an exploding wire with a delay (current pause) no longer than 250 μs. Current and voltage waveforms across the discharge gap, as well as the resistivity values, under the electrical breakdown conditions are shown. Mechanisms and conditions for streamer initiation at a mean electric field strength in the discharge gap of 5.3–17.0 kV/m are discussed. The geometrical dimensions of plasma objects in the forming channel, the run of the electrical current under breakdown, and the formation mechanism of wire explosion products are found from color microphotographs. The formation mechanism of large aerosols in the form of tiny spherical copper and copper oxide (CuO, Cu₂O) particles under wire explosion conditions is discussed.