Effect of the conductivity of a shock-compressed substance on the electromagnetic response of a shock-formed set of conductors

Electromagnetic processes in a shunt-substance system are analyzed in the case where the conductivity in a shock-compressed substance varies with time. Such a system simulates a measuring cell for investigation of the dielectric-metal transition in a shock wave. The electromagnetic response of the system is determined by the magnitude of the conductivity and also by the character of its variation behind the shock front. The current distribution in the system depends on the conductivity profile. The constancy or growth of the conductivity leads to a monotone decrease in the current density in space with distance from the free boundary of a shunt. In the case of conductivity decrease behind the shock front, local maxima of the current density are formed in the system. Our analysis can be helpful for the interpretation of electromagnetic measurements in shock waves. Based on the shapes of the time dependences for two shunts’ surfaces, one can judge qualitatively the character of conductivity variation in the substance to be examined.