SHOCK TUBE STUDIES OF IONIZED GASES.

Abstract : The 6 inch arc driven shock tube located in the Space Physics Laboratory, Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, was used to study shocks in noble gases. To facilitate the work, improvements both in the basic shock tube and in the instrumentation were made. The boundary layers, stability, and other characteristics of hot ionized samples generated by the shocks were studied experimentally in detail. Certain stability calculations were made, the electron beam apparatus (for plasma diagnosis) improved but not perfected, and a study of light scattering techniques made. (Author)