Dynamic characteristics of spherically converging detonation waves

Velocity and timing of multiple spherically converging shock waves in liquid deuterium.

The fuel entropy and required drive energy for an inertial confinement fusion implosion are set by a sequence of shocks that must be precisely timed to achieve ignition. This Letter reports measurements of multiple spherical shock waves in liquid deuterium that facilitate timing inertial confinement fusion shocks to the required precision. These experiments produced the highest shock velocity o...

Symmetry of spherically converging shock waves through reflection, relating to the shock ignition fusion energy scheme.

We examine the properties of perturbed spherically imploding shock waves in an ideal fluid through the collapse, bounce, and development into an outgoing shock wave. We find broad conservation of the size and shape of ingoing and outgoing perturbations when viewed at the same radius. The outgoing shock recovers the velocity of the unperturbed shock outside the strongly distorted core. The resul...

Detonation Waves and Propulsion

The possibility of using a detonation wave as the key combustion system for supersonic propulsion is examined. A brief review of propagating detonations is provided first. This review emphasizes the unique and unstable nature of the coupling between reaction zone and shock waves that characterize detonations. The theory of idealized, steady, oblique detonation waves and their reaction zone stru...

Numerical Resolution of Pulsating Detonation Waves

Detonation waves induced by a confined wedge

An auto-ignition detonation phenomenon can be initiated by a wedge confined in a channel. A new, self-sustaining, normal detonation wave engine concept is proposed. The detonation processes were numerically modeled with a simplified two-dimensional wedged channel flow that was deemed to emulate a real three-dimensional configuration. The results showed that within certain ranges of incoming flo...