Interaction between a Magnetic Field and an Electrically Produced Shock Wave

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Abstract
Shock flows of speeds up to 1 cm/μsec in krypton have been observed to interact with a magnetic field of 5700 gauss. A reflected shock is observed and deceleration of the flow is measured. Gas flows of up to Mach 63 are produced by an annular electric shock tube powered by a capacitor discharge of long time constant. A radial magnetic field geometry provides closed paths within the gas flow for the induced currents. The speed of the wave reflected off the magnetic field is found to increase slightly with interaction strength. The flow momentum lost per particle as the flow traverses the field region is calculated and is compared to the impulse delivered each particle by the magnetic field. Approximate agreement is found over a wide range of experimental conditions, validating the magnetohydrodynamic picture of the interaction and the use of the scalar gas conductivity.

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