Formation of highly structured dense cores from exploding wires with 1-5 kA per wire

Summary form only given. The dynamics of the current-induced explosion of fine (7.5-40 /spl mu/m diameter) metal wires has been studied experimentally for times up to 12 /spl mu/s at 1-5 kA/wire. The main diagnostic technique is direct X-ray backlighting imaging of the exploding wires with 1 /spl mu/m scale spatial resolution, obtained by using very short-time (<0.5 ns) X-ray bursts from a collapsing X-pinch. By varying the parameters of the X-pinch and the starting time of the discharge it is possible to obtain the backlighting images at different moments of time after the discharge onset.