Formation of compression shocks in a nonequilibrium plasma flow in a magnetic field

摘要

Plasma flow in a linearly widening, ideally sectioned, short- circuited magnetohydrodynamic ( MHD) channel is studied. MHD flows are classified into two types: continuous flows and flows with a compressional MHD shock in plasmas that are stable and unstable against the onset of ionization instability. Specific features in the evolution of a stationary compression MHD shock are investigated, and its position as a function of the Stewart number is determined. It is found that, in a plasma flow in which ionization instability develops, a compression MHD shock arises at lower values of the MHD interaction parameter than in a stable plasma flow. An unidentified type of instability of MHD discontinuities is revealed. (c) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.