Flow in a liquid sphere moving with a hypersonic velocity in a rarefied gas - An analytic solution of linearized equations

摘要

The flow in a liquid sphere moving in a rarefied gas with a hypersonic velocity is obtained analytically. The flow in the rarefied gas is approximated as free molecule flow. We assume that the non-linear terms of the hydrodynamical equations as well as the surface deformation are sufficiently small to employ linearized equations. The solution shows that an eddy is formed owing to the tangential momentum flux of gas molecules on the surface of the sphere. This solution is relevant to models describing the formation of cosmic spherules and chondrules in meteorites, where solid dust particles melt due to gas frictional heating. [References: 10]