The effect of magnesium impurities on nonequilibrium processes in the wake behind a model flying at hypersonic speed

An analysis is made of the experimental results obtained in the wake behind a body of aluminum/magnesium alloy flying at a hypersonic speed. It is demonstrated that, as a result of afterburning of magnesium vapors, $\mathrm{MgO}$ is first formed in the gas phase in the wake, which is followed by its condensation into microdroplets from whose surface thermionic emission occurs. This leads to the formation of a positive charge on the droplets and to a marked increase of the electron concentration in the far wake. Calculation results are given, which point to the variation of the concentration of magnesium and to an appreciable increase of the temperature in the wake due to its afterburning. These data enable one to reconstruct the rate constants of some reactions in the wake behind a model made of AMG-6 alloy.