An experimental and theoretical study of the convergence of a toroidal shock wave

TThe convergence of a toroidal shock wave generated in a ring electric spark gap is studied experimentally and theoretically. To calculate the convergence of the internal wave, we used the Chester–Chisnell–Whitham equation of the “geometric dynamics” obtained for the propagation of a shock wave, taking into account the physicochemical transformations in the gas. Experimental and calculated results are compared. An increase in the growth rate of disturbances at the front for chemically reacting gases is noted.