Abstract
In this paper, the ionization characteristics of noble gases are studied numerically behind strong shock waves. As a first step, the equilibrium ionization mechanism of noble gases is modeled in wide ranges of temperature and pressure. As a next step the equilibrium ionization model is coupled with fluid dynamic equations to analyze the local thermodynamic equilibrium(LTE) ionization process at high temperature and pressure conditions behind the strong imploding shock waves. The ionization characteristics of xenon gas is studied in a wide range of test conditions with thermal radiation effects. Hence, the results give optimal conditions of maximum ionization and radiation behind the imploding shock waves.