Generation Of A Nonideal Plasma By Shock Compression Of A Highly Porous Sio2 Aerogel

Results of experiments on shock compression of high porosity SiO2 aerogel are reported. A plasma with a temperature of up to 2.5 eV behind a shock wave spreading at a velocity of up to 13 km/s was produced. Optical pyrometry was applied to measure the brightness temperature, gasdynamic parameters (particle velocity and shock wave velocity) were also monitored. The results of measurements are compared with calculations by several plasma models.