DIFFUSION EFFECTS ON SHOCK STRUCTURE IN A PLASMA

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Planetary Space Sci.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-0633(61)90144-1· OSTI ID:4018563

Sen, H K; Greenberg, O W; Treve, Y M

A study of diffusive charge separation effects on the shock structure in a totally ionized hydrogen plasma was made using alternatively a simplified form of the NavierStokes equations and a simple kinetic theory model. The proton and electron densities and the electric field have an oscillatory fine structure, of the order of the Mach number, M, times the Debye length, LAMBDA D, and overshoot their final Rankine-Hugoniot values. These oscillations decay exponentially with a relaxation distance proportional to the mean free path. The peak ratio of the electric field energy to the plasma thermal energy is appreciable, and increases rapidly with M. (auth)

• Research Organization: Air Force Cambridge Research Center, Bedford, Mass.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-025347
• OSTI ID: 4018563
• Journal Information: Planetary Space Sci., Journal Name: Planetary Space Sci. Vol. Vol: 4
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DEBYE LENGTH
DIFFUSION
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ENERGY
EQUATIONS
HYDROGEN
IONIZATION
NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICS
PLASMA
PROTONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SHOCK WAVES
VELOCITY