Laminar electrostatic shock waves generated by an ion beam

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Phys. Fluids, v. 16, no. 12, pp. 2167-2175

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1694282· OSTI ID:4312481

Ikezi, H; Kamimura, T; Kako, M; Lonngren, K E

Strong laminar electrostatic shock waves have been experimentally observed when an ion beam is injected into a collisionless plasma. The structure of the shock is qualitatively different from one with a trailing wave train. A density depression follows behind the shock front, and no trailing wave train due to wave disperion is found. A significant amount of ions reflected from and transmitted through the shock front form a precuror. The critical Mach number above which no shock is formed is found to be 1.5. Numerical simulations reported here reproduce the experimental observations very well. An analysis based on the water-bag model accounts for the observed value of the critical ion- beam velocity which gives the critical Mach number. It also points out that the reflected ions play an essential role in the peristence of the shock. (auth)

• Research Organization: Institute of Plasma Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464 Japan
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-023258
• OSTI ID: 4312481
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids, v. 16, no. 12, pp. 2167-2175, Journal Name: Phys. Fluids, v. 16, no. 12, pp. 2167-2175; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*COLLISIONLESS PLASMA-- SHOCK WAVES
*ION BEAM INJECTION-- SHOCK WAVES
ELECTROSTATICS
LAMINAR FLOW
N70900* --Physics--Controlled Thermonuclear Research--Wave Phenomena
VELOCITY