Comparison of Oblique, Normal and Transverse Ionizing Shock Waves

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Abstract
The jump equations for an oblique ionizing shock wave are examined in detail. A qualitative description of the shock structure helps to eliminate one of the four possible solutions and to limit the electric currents which the remaining shock solutions can carry. The criterion of evolutionarity is applied to ionizing shock waves to obtain necessary conditions for the existence of unique solutions. A shock structure restriction is proven which allows one to define a unique solution for every shock speed. Using these results, the Chapman-Jouguet mode of electromagnetic shock tube operation is justified in the weak-ionizing shock-wave limit. Oblique, normal and transverse ionizing shocks in hydrogen, including the effects of ionization and dissociation, are compared. The temperature, thermalization efficiency, heating time, conversion ratio of magnetic to thermal energies and the specific impulse obtained by such shocks are used as measures of comparison. The transverse type of shock is shown to be the most effective one for producing a hot plasma sample. Results of several recent experiments are compared to the theoretical predictions, and the accuracy of the shock model and conclusions drawn from it are criticized briefly.

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