Separation of Gas Mixtures in a Supersonic Jet. II. Behavior of Helium-Argon Mixtures and Evidence of Shock Separation

Abstract

Further experimental evidence is presented for the separation of gas mixtures in the supersonic jet formed by a Laval nozzle. The results are in agreement with a separation theory based on free‐molecule kinetics. In addition, anomalies are observed which can be attributed to pressure diffusion effects generated during passage through an oblique shock front located at the exit plane of the nozzle.