Supersonic Neutral Winds in an Outer Atmosphere. I. Isothermal Conditions

Abstract

The concept of steady nozzle flow along a narrow tube is applied to the motion of neutral gas constituents in a locally heated isothermal region of the outer atmosphere of a planet or star. The artificial nozzle throat at which the flow becomes supersonic is achieved by using one oftwo streamline functions within a vertical plane suggested by the possible shapes of convettion cells.