This crack that separates the can in two was formed in 30 microseconds. How was it done?

ps Ninjas were not involved.

Mystery photos 116 in the series.

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Mystery photos 116  Answer

The answer to the fine line cutting through the can is a 5 kV high voltage pulse in a coil around a can with a current of around 18 kA. Normally in an empty can, this would would cause it to crush in to form a narrow segment, however, this can had frozen water in it and could not compress and could only try to separate. At the low power used here (1.5 kJ) it was just enough to separate rather than peel back or wrinkle up. Most power is supplied in the first 30 us.
The photo shows the set-up of my early can crusher with 3 x 35 uF pulse caps out of defibrillators.
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Google+ post March 20 2012 as mystery question 116 with 35 comments.
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Photo Date: March 26, 2005