Propagation of converging and diverging shock waves under isothermal condition (Q1364038)

The flows of perfect gas behind converging and diverging strong shock waves under isothermal condition are examined in the cases of spherical and cylindrical symmetry. The diverging shock wave is formed by energy supply according to a power law. These waves propagate in a uniform medium at rest, and all conservation laws hold at the fronts of these shock waves. The authors establish that in the case of converging waves for all ratios of specific heats between 1 and 3 the solution exists and is unique. For larger ratios of the specific heats, the problem has more than one solution. In the case of diverging shock waves the solution exists and is unique for ratios of specific heats between 1.5 and 3, and for any value of power in the energy input law.