High-energy-density plasma produced by pulsed high current discharge of powder

A plasma created from copper powder was successfully obtained under pulsed high current discharges. Powder flow was injected transiently between the e lectrodes in vacuum or those in the air. The powder particles are spherical and are accelerated by pulsed electrostatic fields. Diverging powder flow was controlled to form a directed flow with a constant diameter by applying an extra focusing electrode. The powder particle trajectories were numeric ally analyzed to design the focusing electrode structure. Conical light emi ssion from the particles was observed in framing photographs during the ear ly stage of the discharges.