Rayleigh mechanism of local elevation of energy in propagation of a shock wave in an active medium

Abstract

A mechanism of action of a shock wave on an active medium, which leads to an additional energy release source, is considered. This source moves together with the shock wave front and depends on the magnitude and direction of the electric field applied to the plasma and on the current density in the plasma. The study is a continuation of an earlier publication devoted to the propagation of weak shock waves. Here, we consider shock waves of an arbitrary intensity with an arbitrary mechanism of formation of an additional energy contribution due to variation of the parameters of the medium as a result of passage of the shock wave. Special cases of this effect are the propagation of a shock wave in a plasma and detonation burning.