Shock Reflection in Plane Symmetry

Abstract

We consider the problem of shock reflection on a solid wall in plane symmetry for a barotropic fluid. We establish a local in time solution after the point of reflection, thereby determining the state behind the reflected shock. The location of the reflected shock in space time being unknown the problem constitutes a free boundary problem. Furthermore, the quantity describing the thermodynamic state of the fluid along the wall being also unknown, complete data for the problem is only given in a single point, the reflection point.