Measurements on a Magnetohydrodynamic Shock

An electrically driven shock wave is launched axially down a tube filled with T e  = 1−2‐eV plasma, carrying an axial current and associated azimuthal magnetic field (250 G). The number density is between 10 16 and 10 17   cm −3 and the shock Mach numbers range from 1.2 to 6.5. Flux compression of 1...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Physics of fluids (1958) 1971-01, Vol.14 (10), p.2102-2106
Main Authors: Sommer, E. J., Barach, J. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:An electrically driven shock wave is launched axially down a tube filled with T e  = 1−2‐eV plasma, carrying an axial current and associated azimuthal magnetic field (250 G). The number density is between 10 16 and 10 17   cm −3 and the shock Mach numbers range from 1.2 to 6.5. Flux compression of 10‐25% at the front is observed, but this amount is very much smaller than ideal theory predicts and its duration is briefer. The flux increase is closely followed by diamagnetic discharge plasma producing an abrupt flux decrease. Mixing with this plasma and boundary‐layer flow to the walls of the shock tube account for the small and brief field compression observed. Rough calculations support this picture and include an effective fraction q 1 of the flow not undergoing compression. This q 1 is found to be as high as 50%.
ISSN:0031-9171
2163-4998
DOI:10.1063/1.1693300