Study of Stability of Hydromagnetic Plasmas and Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of the Behavior of Ionized Gases in a Magnetic Field under Shock Conditions

摘要

Driver temperatures in excess of 25,000K were attained for an arc driven shock tube by utilizing a prestressed ceramic liner. Contamination and cooling of the driver gas by evaporated liner products were reduced. A laser interferometer was perfected for the study of strong ionizing shocks. Measurements on argon shocks allow detection of the passage of the shock front, determination of the length of the ionized gas sample and determination of the electron density in the ionized gas. Another diagnostic technique employed in the study of the ionized gas sample utilizes an electron beam. Electron scattering and spectroscopic analysis of the radiation permit determination of particle density and rotational and vibrational temperatures in the ionized gas. Plasma-magnetic field interfaces are studied in several geometries. Studies were performed on trajectories of parallel-to-B sub o plasma vortices which travel in a magnetic field with a gradient. A plasma camera was developed for this type of vortex in a homogeneous magnetic field and data indicate the plasma vortex structure to be very complex. Schlieren instrumentation for perpendicular-to-B sub o was constructed to be used on a parallel plate accelerator. (Author)