Abstract
Pressure and temperature gradients across a bow shock in a (partially) ionized gas induce an electrical potential that can be used to drive a current. The voltage difference between electrodes (probes) mounted upstream and downstream of the shock depends on the shock strength (flow Mach number and oblique shock angle) and on the difference of the electrode work functions. Such a bow shock generator has an internal resistance that is governed by the electron temperature and the ion current density at the colder (upstream) electrode. The bow shock generator voltage (typically one volt) was measured as a function of the extracted current (up to 0.8 A/cm2) for different shock angles and flow Mach numbers. A theoretical model that agrees well with these experiments has been developed.
Published Version
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