Ion-Density Profile of the Flow in an Electric Shock Tube

Abstract

The ion-density profile of the flow in an electric shock tube is measured by using probe method and the results are discussed under the assumption that the ion flow is one-dimensional, isentropic and electrohydrodynamic. The measured profile is considered to consist of two parts: one is a uniform region, and the other is a trailing region. In the trailing region there exists slightly excess ion of the order of the square root of the ion density in the uniform region. The effect of recombination on the peak value of the probe signal is briefly discussed.