Stable Slow Liquid Shock Wave In Waveguides

Wire explosions in 2 mm or 4 mm thick layers of H2O contained between a plate of 10 mm lucite and a thin metal plate (some 0.1 mm thick) are studied by X-ray flash photography. A slowly propagating onedimensional liquid wave is induced. Its formation and propagation can be studied with these pictures. The slow propagation velocity is explained by its surface-wave character and a vortex, both explored for the first time. The formation of cavitations in the surrounding liquid is seen, too and proofs a presumption used to explain earlier experiments. The cavitations interact with the shock waves and cause interesting features. Depending on the experimental condition the cavitation bubbles are formed chaotic or in periodic patterns These experiments could be a test for modern theories relating turbulence and chaos.