Laser scattering by submicron droplets originated during the electrical explosion of thin metal wires.

This paper presents the results of studying of dispersed media formation during the electrical explosion of thin metal wires in vacuum by using low-current generators ($\sim 1$-$10$~kA). Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the composition and structure of the corresponding explosion products as well as to the problem of their visualization using simultaneous laser interferometry and shadow imaging at two wavelengths (1.064~$\mu$m and 0.532~$\mu$m). Our findings point to the fact that the important role in the visualization of the explosion products belongs to multiple scattering by submicron droplets of dense condensed matter, which are mixed with metal vapor. The hypothesis on the existence of submicron droplets in the products of exploding metal wires correlates with the results obtained by soft x-ray radiography combined with a laser probing technique. Taking into account the multiple scattering by submicron droplets, it is possible to significantly clarify the parameters of the explosion products visualized via laser probing techniques as well as to gain a deeper insight into the physics behind the electrical wire explosion.