Magnetic compression and a kinematic signature of surface melting in current-driven metal loads

A. W. Klemmer; S. E. Kreher; T. M. Hutchinson; E. P. Yu; T. J. Awe; C. L. Rousculp; D. H. Dolan; B. T. Hutsel; K. C. Yates; K. J. Swanson; J. J. Iratcabal; A. Dahal; B. S. Bauer

doi:10.1103/qxq4-k5xp

Letter

Magnetic compression and a kinematic signature of surface melting in current-driven metal loads

A. W. Klemmer ^1,*,†, S. E. Kreher², T. M. Hutchinson ³, E. P. Yu⁴, T. J. Awe⁴, C. L. Rousculp ², D. H. Dolan ⁵, B. T. Hutsel ⁴, K. C. Yates⁴ et al.

K. J. Swanson⁶, J. J. Iratcabal ¹, A. Dahal ¹, and B. S. Bauer ¹

¹Department of Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA
²Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
³Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
⁴Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
⁵Physics Department and Institute for Shock Physics, College of Arts and Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-2816, USA
⁶Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA

^*Contact author: aidanklemmer@outlook.com
^†Present address: Pacific Fusion Corporation, Fremont, California 94538, USA.

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Phys. Rev. E 114, L023202 – Published 28 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/qxq4-k5xp

Abstract

In current-driven metal loads, a nonlinear magnetic-diffusion wave carries current and Joule heating inward from the electrical skin-depth layer, coupling the electromagnetic drive to material compression, melting, and expansion. Photon Doppler velocimetry of electrically thick aluminum measures premelt radial magnetic compression of $34.8 \pm 2.1$ nm and an acceleration transition during surface melting. Interpreted with one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic calculations, the measured velocity history gives a model-assisted solid-liquid transition duration of $4.5 \pm 0.7 ns$ . The result is a validation-relevant surface-motion constraint for integrated current-driven material models, complementary to direct pressure-density-temperature measurements of aluminum.

Physical Review E

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Magnetic compression and a kinematic signature of surface melting in current-driven metal loads

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Magnetic compression and solid-liquid phase transition of current-carrying conductors measured by photon Doppler velocimetry

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Magnetic compression and a kinematic signature of surface melting in current-driven metal loads

Abstract

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

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Magnetic compression and solid-liquid phase transition of current-carrying conductors measured by photon Doppler velocimetry

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