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Similarity solution for cylindrical magnetohydrodynamic blast waves

Greifinger, Carl and Cole, Julian D. (1962) Similarity solution for cylindrical magnetohydrodynamic blast waves. Physics of Fluids, 5 (12). pp. 1597-1607. ISSN 0031-9171. doi:10.1063/1.1706571. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:GREpof62

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Abstract

A similarity solution is obtained for the flow behind a very strong (in the hydrodynamic sense) cylindrical magnetohydrodynamic shock wave produced by the sudden release of energy along a line of infinite extent in a plasma. The plasma is assumed to be an ideal gas with infinite electrical conductivity, and to be permeated by the azimuthal magnetic field of a line current. It is shown that it is of critical importance to take into account the ambient magnetic pressure, no matter how small. It is found that, to preserve similarity, the external circuit is required to maintain a constant axial current; this result also appears in the related problem, treated by Greenspan, where the ambient plasma is nonconducting. This boundary condition is shown to have some interesting consequences, especially with regard to the energy content of the system. The dependence of the shock speed on the explosive energy is determined as a function of the ambient magnetic field both for the present case and for Greenspan's case, and interesting differences are noted. Other differences between the two cases are also discussed.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1706571DOIUNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:©1962 The American Institute of Physics. Received July 12, 1962. This research is sponsored by the United States Air Force under Project Rand—Contract No. AF 49(638)-700.
Issue or Number:12
DOI:10.1063/1.1706571
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:GREpof62
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:GREpof62
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:9128
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Tony Diaz
Deposited On:31 Oct 2007
Last Modified:08 Nov 2021 20:56

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