A Nanosecond High-Current Discharge in a Supersonic Gas Flow

The parameters of a nanosecond self-sustained volume discharge with pre-ionization of gas by UV radiation in an air flow are investigated. In the case of nonuniform distribution of the flow parameters, the discharge “contracts” to regions of lower density of gas, which become sources of higher intensity of glow. Comparison is made of the specific energy release in the self-sustained discharge at the stage of its uniform combustion and during self-localization in the zone of discontinuities (gradients) of gasdynamic parameters. It is demonstrated that, in the latter case, the effect of discharge on the characteristics of flow may increase significantly owing to an appreciable growth of specific energy deposition.