Magnetic Field Interactions with Shock Ionized Argon

The construction, instrumentation and calibration of a pressure-driven shock tube is described. Experiments are reported on interactions occurring between a magnetic field and ionized argon moving at shock Mach numbers 8 to 23 and the conditions for these interactions are shown to be well defined in terms of the Lundquist and magnetic Reynolds numbers. The modifications to the fluid flow which result from these interactions are discussed in terms of magnetic body forces on the fluid and steady state flow patterns associated with different magnetic field configurations have been photographed. These show that a radially symmetric magnetic field may act as a nozzle to plasma flow, that an asymmetric field may shear the plasma flow and that when the interaction is strong enough a reflected shock wave is produced in the plasma.