Self-similarity of the Third Type in the Strong Explosion Problem

Abstract

Propagation of a blast wave due to strong explosion in the center of a power-law-density ($\rho \propto r^{-\alpha }$) spherically symmetric atmosphere is studied. For adiabatic index of 5/3, the solution was known to be self-similar, (of type I) for $\alpha <3$, self-similar (of type II) for $\alpha >3.26$, and unknown in between. We find a self-similar solution for $3<\alpha <3.26$, and give a (tentative) numerical proof that this solution is indeed an asymptotic of the strong explosion. This self-similar solution is neither of type I (dimensional analysis does not work), nor of type II (the index of the solution is known without solving an eigenvalue problem).

4 pages, 3 figures