An explosive‐driven magnetic‐field compression device can be used as a source of a large pulse of electrical energy. We describe a number of such systems, showing how their measured output currents compare with theoretical calculations. Both large‐inductance coil geometries and low‐inductance coaxial geometries are discussed. Energy losses due to resistive heating, wall compression, electrical breakdown, and gas compression are considered. A numerical calculation procedure for coaxial generators is also described. We have built and tested coaxial generators whose measured output current can be accounted for by calculations of resistive heating and wall compression. Coil geometry generators are measured to be less efficient than calculated. Our results also show that further investigations of electrical breakdown and gas compression effects are needed.
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