An analytic solution to the hypersonic, radiative blunt body problem

We present an analytic model for the thin-shell, radiative interaction between a hypersonic, plane-parallel wind and a rigid, spherical obstacle. This problem has clear applications, e.g., to the interaction of winds from young stars and dense cloudlets, and to the interaction of the wind from a binary partner with the photosphere of the second star. We also present a comparison of the analytic model with a full, axisymmetric numerical simulation. We find only a partial agreement between the numerical simulation and the analytic model, apparently as a result of the very strong 'thin-shell' instabilities of the post-bow shock flow. Our analytic model predicts the surface density, flow velocity and the energy radiated per unit area, as well as the total luminosity of the bow shock. The model can therefore be used directly for carrying out comparisons with observations of different astrophysical objects.