Calculations of gas compression during the electrical explosion of cylindrical shells

A one-dimensional MHD computer program is used to obtain numerical results on plasma production and compression using an electrically exploding cylindrical shell. The role played by the variable electroconductivity of the layers forming the shell is emphasized; this variability leads to redistribution of current density, nonsimultaneous acceleration of the layers, and additional compression of the gas that fills the shell. A radial layer distribution is given for a shell composed of copper and dielectric layers.