Exploding wire method

The exploding wire method or EWM is a way to generate plasma that consists in sending a strong enough pulse of electric current through a thin wire of some electrically conductive material. The resistive heating vaporizes the wire, and an electric arc through that vapor creates an explosive shockwave.

Exploding wires are used as detonators for explosives, as momentary high intensity light sources, and in the production of metal nanoparticles.