ELECTRODE ABLATION IN AN ELECTROMAGNETIC SHOCK-TUBE

Electrode ablation in a rail type of electromagnetic shock tube has been studied. Cathode ablation is found to be present over a wide range of experimental parameters whereas anode ablation is found to be immeasurably small. The parameters varied include the drive current, gas pressure, and the electrode material. Observations of current sheet velocity are interpreted as evaporation of cathode material from cathode spots. The ablation series determined from velocity data for the metals tested is: mild steel, Zn, Cu, Mo, in order of decreasing amount of ablation.