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Heating and ionization in MHD switch-on shocks in partially ionized plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

L. Bighel ,
A. R. Collins  and
N. F. Cramer
L. Bighel
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
A. R. Collins
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
N. F. Cramer
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
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Abstract

The structure of MHD switch-on shocks propagating along a magnetic field into an upstream partially ionized plasma is studied experimentally and theoretically. Detailed measurements of density, temperature and magnetic field are presented, and compared with a model based on the fluid equations for electrons, ions and neutral atoms. The main feature of the model is that dissipation of shock energy occurs primarily through ion collisions with neutrals. According to the model, at low upstreain ionization levels, ions and neutrals are preferentially heated above the electrons. At high ionization levels, the electrons are more strongly heated. This is found to be in agreement with the shock structures obtained for 4 switch-on shocks, differing in the level of upstream ionization.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , August 1977 , pp. 77 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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References

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