On the behaviour of weak discontinuities in an electrically conducting gas
Abstract
Singular surface theory is applied to the propagation of weak discontinuities in an ideal conducting gas with finite electrical conductivity in a magnetic field orthogonal to the gas particle trajectories. A growth equation is obtained for a moving singularity surface, termed a weak wave, across which the flow and field variables are essentially continuous but discontinuities in their derivatives are permitted, for the situation in which the medium ahead of the wave is uniform and at rest. Conditions for the decay, propagation and conversion to a shock wave for plane and cylindrical diverging waves are derived, and it is found that the finite electrical conductivity has a stabilizing effect, acting to delay or prevent shock wave formation.
- Publication:
-
Nuovo Cimento Lettere
- Pub Date:
- February 1980
- Bibcode:
- 1980NCimL..27..129S
- Keywords:
-
- Conducting Fluids;
- Electrical Resistivity;
- Ionized Gases;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Flow;
- Shock Wave Propagation;
- Cylindrical Waves;
- Ideal Gas;
- Magnetic Fields;
- Particle Trajectories;
- Plane Waves;
- Shock Discontinuity;
- Time Lag;
- Plasma Physics