Structure of weak shock wave discontinuities in magnetohydrodynamics
The propagation of a weak shock wave in a medium of initially constant fluid velocity, magnetic field, and thermodynamic parameters was studied. The structure of discontinuities for such a shock in real cases was analyzed. By examining the change in variables inside the relaxation transition region, the length of the latter, i.e. of the disturbed region was obtained. In order to derive the physical model explaining the finite shock length, several assumptions were made: the medium was treated as a very large layer of nonnegligible viscosity and thermal conductivity. Starting from basic MHD relations, the invariants on the shock fronts, taking into consideration the process inside the disturbed region, were calculated. Modified Rankine - Hugoniot equation discussing the process inside the relaxation region was derived therefrom. Finally, the dependence of pressure upon distance was examined under the assumptions: the fluid was considered as polytropic. Hence, by approximate integration of an obtained transcendental function, the length of relaxation region was obtained and the result obtained is discussed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Geomagnetic Inst., Grocka, Yugoslavia
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-29-019228
- OSTI ID:
- 4321439
- Journal Information:
- Astrophys. Space Sci., v. 24, no. 2, pp. 309-321, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-74
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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