AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE SHOCK STRUCTURE IN A PARTIALLY IONIZED GAS,
Abstract
Shock structure experiments were carried out in a radio frequency heated, steady state, low density, partially ionized argon plasma jet. The primary diagnostic tool was the aligned cylindrical free molecule Langmuir probe used to probe a normal shock wave. Spatial resolution was 13% of the heavy particle shock thickness, thus details of electron temperature, ion number density, and plasma potential are available through the shock. The electron temperature rise was observed to precede the heavy particle shock. The plasma potential converted from floating potential according to the theory of Laframboise was in substantial agreement with changes in plasma potential obtained from a numerical quadrature of the generalized Ohm's Law assuming zero current. A quantitative explanation of the dark space observed to precede partially ionized gas shocks is provided by comparing the collisional-radiative recombination rate calculated with observed electron temperature and number density to the luminosity of the flow. The results of integrating the electron energy equation including the effect of recombination energy transfer was compared to the data to show that the fraction of ionization energy given to the electron gas was not constant through the shock. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0691269
Entities
People
- Robert H. Kirchhoff
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley