Flow analysis of a shock wave at pulse ionization: Riemann problem implementation

Abstract

An experimental study of the plasma-gas dynamic fluid formed after pulse ionization of the gas flow with a plane shock wave with Mach number 2.2–4.8 is carried out. Nanosecond volume discharge with UV preionization was switched on when the shock moved in a tube channel test section. Energy input occurs in the low-pressure gas volume separated by the shock surface within a time less than 200–300 ns; a single shock wave breaks into three discontinuities in accordance with the 1D Riemann problem solution. The initial (plasma-dynamic) stage of the flow in the nanosecond time range is visualized by glow recording; the supersonic gas processes in the microsecond time range are recorded using high-speed shadow imaging. Quantitative information about the dynamics of the shocks and contact surface (plots of horizontal distance) was obtained within time up to 25 µs. A region with an increased gas-discharge plasma glow intensity, after the discharge electric current termination, was recorded in the time interval from 0.3 to 1.5 µs; it was explained by a jump in gas temperature and density between the new shock wave and the contact discontinuity.