Magnetic field diffusion during a metal-insulator phase transition

An analysis is made of the diffusion of a static (slowly varying) magnetic field in a conductor in which a first-order phase transition to the insulating state takes place under the action of the Joule heating. An investigation is made of the case of subsonic propagation of the phase boundary. A (V_1−X Cr_X)₂O₃ solid solution is analyzed as a model substance. The application of this effect in pulsed high-current circuit breakers is discussed. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 43–48 (December 1998)