High enegy density plasma produced by pulsed high current discharge of powder

A plasma created from copper powder was successfully obtained in pulsed high current discharges. Powder flow was injected transiently between the electrodes in vacuum. The powder particles are spherically shaped and are accelerated by pulsed electrostatic field. Diverging powder flow was controlled to form a directed flow with a constant diameter by applying an extra focusing electrode. The powder particle trajectory is numerically analyzed to design the focusing electrode. Conical shaped light emission from the particles was observed in framing photographs during the early stage of discharge.