Velocity of Shock Waves in Crossed Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

The velocity variations of shock waves in steady, crossed electromagnetic fields have been measured by using a T-shaped electromagnetically driven shock tube filled with helium at an initial pressure of 1 Torr. Also the analysis concerning the velocity variations are made by the characteristic method including the electrical conductivity variation due to the change of the shock wave velocity and assuming that the magnetic Reynolds number is very small and that the Hall effect is negligible. The effect of finite magnetic Reynolds number on the velocity variation is estimated analytically. The effect is shown to be small. The measured variations of the velocity agree fairly well with those obtained analytically.