Influence of radiation cross section uncertainties on shock wave structure

This numerical study investigates the sensitivity of non-equilibrium shockwave structure to uncertainties in (a) the ground and excited state continuum radiative cross section and (b) the bound-bound radiative cross section in a three level (ground, excited, and free electronic states considered) argon-like gas at Mach 18 and a pressure of 1 cm Hg. Changing the values of the radiative cross sections by an order of magnitude does not significantly influence the relaxation region; however, a large change occurs in not only the magnitude but also the extent of both the electron and excited state precursors. Increasing either the ground state continuum or the bound-bound cross section decreases the number of free electrons in front of the shock wave. These cross sections also influence the extent of the electron precursor through their influence on the ratio of the electrons produced by ground state photoionization to those produced by ground state photoexcitation followed by excited state photoionization. The bound-bound cross section also controls the excited state precursor, because the production of excited states is entirely due to line radiation. Increasing the excited state photoionization cross section increases both the magnitude and extent of the electron precursor, because the cross section influences the ratio of the two processes that compete to produce free electrons, and at the same time it influences the magnitude of the excited state precursor.