Shock wave propagation in gases under subatmospheric pressure

In the present paper the results of the experiments on the shock wave dynamics under subatmospheric pressure in neutral gases are presented. The characteristics of spherical and plane configuration shock wave excitation and propagation are studied in the pressure region 1 torr< p < 760 torr. It is shown that when p = 3 torr it is still possible to fix successfully the shock wave appearance and propagation in various neutral gases. The pressure dependence of the shock wave propagation velocity and amplitude is determined experimentally. It is shown that when the pressure decreases the shock wave amplitude decreases and an increase of the Mach number takes place, in the case of plane shock wave the Mach number reaches the value M = 5.2 under the pressure p = 3 torr.