Estimation of the initial density distribution in plasma–metal liners

We describe a method for estimating the initial density profile of the liner shell from experimental current and voltage oscillograms with correction of the radius of the pinch from its optical images. It is shown that the average radial profile of the initial density distribution of plasma–metal liners can be approximated by two Gaussian curves with different dispersions. The largest contribution to the main peak of the initial density distribution comes from bismuth cathode material (bismuth) ions, while the contribution to the second Gaussian curve is due to the substance of the insulator over the surface of which the vacuum arc is initiated.