Nonlinear development of acoustical instabilities in supersonic jets (Q1108153)

The authors develop a quantitative theory for the nonlinear zig-zag modes which appear in numerical simulations of supersonic jets. Using the ideas of geometrical optics, the theory leads to simplified asymptotic equations which predict zig-zag shock structures. The distinction between subsonic and supersonic Mach numbers is discussed, there being no amplifying zig-zag modes in the subsonic case and a finite number in the supersonic case. Attention is drawn to the existence in certain cases for centered rarefaction waves outside the jet, and suggestions are made for further work.