OBSERVATIONS ON REFLECTED SHOCK IN A T-TUBE AND COMPARISON WITH THEORY

The temperature and electron number density behind the reflected shock in helium gas in a T-tube have been measured over a wide range of shock conditions. These parameters are compared with theoretical values obtained from the equilibrium solution of the conservation shock equations. Over the range of filling pressures examined (0·1-10 mmHg), a maximum discrepancy of 40 per cent in temperature is observed between theory and experiment. The curve of electron number density in the reflected shock against filling pressure shows a maximum. A similar effect has been observed by Burgess et al.(5) in measurements on Z-pinch discharges. The effect is explained in terms of shock theory. © 1969.