Study of shock waves interacting with Ar and N2 low pressure dc discharges

Acoustical shock waves (Mach number < 2) generated in situ by spark gap are propagated in weakly ionized dc discharges working at low pressure (399 Pa) and containing either Ar or N2 gas. The electrical characterization and the laser deflection technique are used to measure the characteristics of dc discharge (such as voltage, resistance and power of discharge) and the structure and velocity of shock wave, respectively. The results stress the importance of atomic and molecular nature of the gases in affecting the power deposition and the shock wave properties.