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

Citation

Wong, Howard (1961) Preliminary Study of the Rate and Degree of Thermal Ionization of Argon Behind Shock Waves. Engineer's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/SDGQ-VZ93. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-12222005-102142

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)

Thesis Files