MICROWAVE INVESTIGATION OF ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN SHOCK WAVES IN GASES

Abstract

The application of microwave interaction with gaseous plasmas to the study of electrically driven shock waves in inert gases and gaseous plasmas is discussed. The microwave techniques used in this work include: (1) phase shift and resonant probe methods of measuring electron densities in the shock wave, (2) Doppler frequency shift of a microwave signal reflected by the shock wave plasma which enables one to measure the velocity of propagation of shock waves, and (3) radiometer measurements of the noise power radiated by the shock wave plasma in the microwave frequency range. The microwave measurements were supplemented by observations of the visible light emitted from the shocked gas and by voltage induced signals on small metallic probes placed in the path of the propagating shock waves. The investigated shock waves were in the Mach 4 to Mach 14 velocity range and were produced in neon and argon gases at pressures from 0.1 to 5 mm Hg. The shock waves were initiated by passing an intense electric dis charge current through a portion of the gas filling the shock tube.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0407701

Entities

People

  • C. D. Hendricks
  • J. Gerardo
  • Lawrence S.B. Goldstein

Organizations

  • University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Doppler Effect
  • Electric Discharges
  • Electron Density
  • Electron Gas
  • Electrons
  • Free Electrons
  • Frequency Shift
  • Geometry
  • Ionization
  • Measurement
  • Radio Frequency
  • Radio Waves
  • Spectra
  • Standing Waves
  • Visible Spectra
  • Wave Phenomena

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.
  • Microwave Engineering.
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics