Preliminary Study of the Rate and Degree of Thermal Ionization of Argon Behind Shock Waves

Author: Wong, Howard

Year: 1961

Degree: Engineer's thesis

Advisor: Jahn, Robert G.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Aeronautics

DOI: 10.7907/SDGQ-VZ93

Abstract

NOTE: Text or symbols not renderable in plain ASCII are indicated by [...]. Abstract is included in .pdf document.

A microwave system (K-band, 24KMC) was designed and assembled to study the degree of ionization in argon as a function of time or distance behind shock waves in a shock tube. The relaxation time for ionization and the attenuation and reflection of the microwave at equilibrium were measured for Mach numbers from 6.19 to 7.74 at [...] of 5mm and 10mm Hg to determine the influence of temperature, density, collision cross-section and impurities. These measurements were complemented with theoretical calculation of microwave absorption and electron density at equilibrium for a Mach number range of 6 to 8 with initial pressures [...] of 1 mm to 10mm Hg. (Sections II, III, IV)

Files