Vacuum Calorimetry in Exploding Wire Studies

A method of using vacuum calorimetry as a means of determining directly the energy deposited in an electrically exploded wire is presented. This energy determination is compared with that given by the time integral of the product of voltage and current. A definite reproducible pattern of the explosion products is deposited on the walls of the calorimeter, which may be used as a means of understanding the behavior of the wire during the explosion.