Propagation of Magnetohydrodynamic Shock Waves

Abstract

The propagation of magnetohydrodynamic shock waves in a self gravitating gas sphere has been studied. The shock is supposed to be generated as a result of sudden release of energy at the centre of symmetry. A similarity solution for the flow is developed. Numerical results for three different values of mach-number given by M/sup2/=200, 100 and 10 are obtained. The magnetic field affects the boundary conditions at the shock as well as the flow behind it. For a fixed increase M, the particle velocity, density and gas pressure decreases as the initial magnetic field increase. In the flow field behind the shock, there exists a transition region across which the effect of magnetic field is reversed.