Intermediate shocks in three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic bow-shock flows with multiple interacting shock fronts
Simulation results of three-dimensional (3D) stationary magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) bow-shock flows around perfectly conducting spheres are presented. For strong upstream magnetic field a new complex bow-shock flow topology arises consisting of two consecutive interacting shock fronts. It is shown that the leading shock front contains a segment of intermediate 1-3 shock type. This is the first confirmation in 3D that intermediate shocks, which were believed to be unphysical for a long time, can be formed and can persist for small-dissipation MHD in a realistic flow configuration.
De Sterck H
von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Waterloosesteenweg 72, 1640 Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium and Centre for Plasma Astrophysics, Celestijnenlaan 200B, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
Poedts
S