Characteristics of Multidimensional Shocks in Weakly Ionized Gases

该奖项将支持一个协调的实验和理论计划，旨在了解在弱电离气体中传播的多维冲击的特征。目的是了解与中性冲击相比，空间电荷和激波曲率在改变激波特性方面所起的作用。提出了一种产生激波的新技术，这将使研究激波曲率对横向（激波传播方向）粒子流动的影响成为可能。此外，实验室的尺寸（50cm × 100cm）以及产生等离子体的技术将有可能大大减少室壁和放电产生电路对激波中带电粒子分布的影响。实验中产生的数据将用于验证多维冲击代码，该代码将被开发以帮助解释结果，并为未来工作中基于模型的控制提供起点。

This award will support a coordinated experimental and theoretical program directed at understanding the characteristics of multi-dimensional shocks propagating in weakly ionized gases. The aim is to understand the role played by the space charge and the shock curvature in modifying the shock characteristics as compared to neutral shocks. A novel technique for generating these shock waves is proposed which will make it possible investigate the effects of transverse (to the direction of shock propagation) particle flows as result of shock curvature. Moreover, the dimensions of the experimental chamber (50cm x 100 cm) as well as the techniques for generating the plasma will make it possible to greatly reduce the influence of the chamber wall and the discharge generating circuit on the charged particle distribution in the shock. The data generated in the experiments will be used to validate the multi-dimensional shock code which will bedeveloped to assist in the interpretation of the results, and to provide a starting point for model-based control in future work.