MELTING DYNAMICS IN CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTORS AND ITS EFFECT ON ELECTRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS

This work studies the dynamics of melting in current-carrying conducto rs. Formulae are derived which describe the dependence of temperature at the front of phase transition upon the distance from the axis of th e conductor. The thermodynamic stability of a phase transition front i s investigated. It is shown that due to strong variations of conductiv ity during melting the rate of change of conductivity is of the same o rder as an active resistance of a conductor. Clearly the magnitude of this effect depends upon the ratio of electric conductivities in liqui d and solid phases. The effect is stronger when this ratio is lower. ( C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.