Rarefaction Waves in Liquid and Gas-Liquid Media

Abstract

The thermodynamics of a substance in the critical state has been exten­ sively studied, and a strong dependence of the thermodynamic parameters on the temperature and pressure near the critical point has been revealed. However, processes such as heat exchange and finite-amplitude waves (shock waves) have not been as thoroughly investigated in the region of the critical point. In fact, the question of the dynamics of finite-amplitude perturbations of pressure, density, and temperature in the critical region has not been considered at all. One should mention just one study devoted to shock waves near the critical point, namely that by Zel'dovich (1946), who analyzed the entropy condition for shock-wave stability and theo­ retically the possible existence of rarefaction shock waves. The effect of the sign of (iJ2p/iJV2)s on the structure of compression and rarefaction waves was discussed by Thompson & Lambrakis (1973).