Front Separation Regions Initiated by Upstream Energy Deposition

Shock wave refraction enhancing conditions on an extended interface

“…11 The observed structure in the flow is the result of interaction of the thin high temperature wake with a shock layer. Among other reasons associated with thermal heating of the flow are the local Mach number reduction, mean molecular weight, the number density of the gas change due to molecular dissociation, ionization, and generation of charged particles, leading to the upstream momentum transfer in the hypersonic flow.…”

“…Among other reasons associated with thermal heating of the flow are the local Mach number reduction, mean molecular weight, the number density of the gas change due to molecular dissociation, ionization, and generation of charged particles, leading to the upstream momentum transfer in the hypersonic flow. [11][12][13][14] The alteration of the shock wave structure reported in the experiments includes the change of the shock front shape, its upstream displacement with a larger shock angle, and a highly diffused form of the shock front until its full elimination. 15 The effect of plasma was not confined to the vicinity of the plasma region but rather influenced a larger region of the flow field.…”

“…8 A number of authors reported on the complex structure of flow variation in this interaction. [11][12][13][14] In a localized, wall-free plasma discharge, interaction of shock waves with a stationary hot spot, or a layer generated by the off-board energy deposition to heat the gas, has long been acknowledged as an efficient means of ad-hoc flow control. These hot gaseous objects are perceived as adequate operating agents capable of modifying the flow by directly reducing the drag locally or by inciting the transition from laminar to turbulent flow.…”