Observation of shock wave elimination by a plasma in a Mach-2.5 flow

An experimental study on the influence of a plasma on the structure of an attached conical shock front appearing at the front end of a missile-shaped model has been carried out in a Mach-2.5 flow. The tip and the body of the model are designed as the cathode and anode for gaseous discharge, which produces a spraylike plasma moving around the tip. It is observed that the plasma has caused the shock front to separate from the model. The shock wave moves upstream in the form of a detached bow shock a sensible distance away from the model tip. The detached shock front appears to be highly dispersed in its new location as seen in the shadow video graphs of the flow. As the discharge current increases, experimental evidence shown in the video further reveals a distinct state of the flow without the presence of any shock wave.