The properties and structure of a plasma non-neutral shock

A non-neutral shock wave in fully ionized plasma is investigated. The effects of the plasma electric characters (current, field and charge) on the shock jump relations and front constructions are considered emphatically. The Hugoniot relations of velocities and temperatures, and the critical up-stream Mach number M-c for the plasma shock existence depend on the current passed through the shock front J(0), the electric potential difference between the up- and downstream of shock Deltaphi and the ion charge number Z. The numerical results of shock front show that a weak current carried by the shock can strengthen or weaken the non-neutral shock distinctly. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.