The formation of an ion‐acoustic shock in a numerically modeled two chamber double plasma device is investigated for a plasma of cold ions and isothermal Boltzmann electrons. An initial potential ramp applied to the driver chamber launches an ion‐acoustic pulse into the target chamber which steepens into a shock. The quasisteady shock structure agrees with observed double plasma shocks. An upper limit of Mach 1.6 is observed independent of the potential ramp magnitude, in agreement with theory.
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© 1974 American Institute of Physics.
1974
American Institute of Physics
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