Some effects of hypersonic ionization on the design of electrical and electronic components

VEHICLES traveling at hypersonic velocities in a gaseous atmosphere will be surrounded by a shock-induced high-temperature sheath. As a result of the high temperature, the gaseous sheath has an electron density greater than that of the ambient atmosphere. Since the craft will be immersed in a high-temperature envelope, both it and its components will be subjected to unusual temperatures. Fig. 1 indicates the way in which the air temperature and density varies from the shock front to vehicle surface for a given velocity and altitude.