DETERMINATION OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL CONSTANTS IN THE WAKE BEHIND A BODY FLYING IN ARGON AT HYPERSONIC VELOCITY

The solution of linearized equations describing a nonequilibrium axisy mmetric laminar boundary layer is used to treat the results of measure ments of electron concentration in the wake behind a moving body. The following quantities are obtained by using the results of measurements of integral characteristics associated with the electron concentratio n in the wake behind a body moving in pure argon at a hypersonic veloc ity and with an increase in the width of the wake: the ambipolar Schmi dt number, constants determining the temperature distribution along th e axis of the wake, the initial diameter of the wake, and the rate of the Ar2+ + e --> Ar + Ar reaction of dissociative recombination as a f unction of temperature. The distributions of temperature, electron con centration, and the width of the wake are calculated on the basis of o btained constants and solutions, and the results are compared with exp erimental data. It is shown that agreement between the results of our calculations and the available empirical data is quite satisfactory.