Experiments on the Plasma flow past Bodies in a Magnetic Field

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Abstract
Plasma flows past bodies in a magnetic field are investigated experimentally by the use of a plasma from a plasma gun. The downstream wake of an ordinary hydrodynamic shock wave is observed for a collision-dominant plasma flow. The structure of the shock is investigated in detail for a wedge-shaped conductor. The plasma flow is divided into four regions by three characteristic lines: (1) the shock front, (2) the expansion wave from the tail of the wedge, and (3) the magnetic line of force passing through the tail of the wedge. When a wake of the shock wave interacts with the other wake, they join into one along the magnetic lines of force. Plasma flows past a wave-shaped wall are also investigated. As the plasma flow becomes collision-free, this downstream wake gradually disappears and no collision-free shock wave is observable. When the plasma flow is sub-Alfvénic, a disturbance propagating upstream along the magnetic lines of force is observed.

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