Model calculations of the ionization relaxation and radiative cooling in unsteady krypton and xenon shock waves

The ionization relaxation and radiative cooling of weakly unsteady shock waves in krypton and xenon is examined. We find that, besides radiation energy loss, the shock-tube boundary layers and shock attenuation strongly influence the radiative-cooling region. Calculations taking these effects into account are in excellent agreement with experimental values of electron densities. The contribution of line radiation to total radiation energy loss is obtained, and amounts to about 54% at temperatures of 10000 K in krypton. For xenon, first comparisons indicate a similar result. © 1984, Cambridge University Press 1984. All rights reserved