Supersonic Neutral Winds in an Outer Atmosphere. III. A Two-dimensional Model

Abstract

A steady two-dimensional model that represents the part of a convection cell where the neutral gas constituent is rising and becoming supersonic is presented for both isothermal and variable temperature conditions in an intensely heated region of the outer atmosphere of a planet or star. The streamlines and orthogonal curves are represented by a system of confocal hyperbolae and ellipses respectively. The nozzle throat is achieved principally by the physical contraction and subsequent expansion of the gas rather than by a variation in the temperature or in the gravitational force component along the streamline.