Application of a Mach–Zehnder Interferometer to the Observation of Mach Stem Formation When a Shock Wave is Reflected from a Rigid Surface

摘要

The reflection of a nonlinear spark-generated N-wave in air from a flat rigid surface is investigated experimentally. The pressure profile of the N-wave is reconstructed from optical measurements performed using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. An irregular reflection is observed in the experiment; the evolution of a Mach stem is investigated, and the trajectory of a triple point during the N-wave propagation along the surface is investigated.