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 ($ρ\propto r^{-α}$) spherically symmetric atmosphere is studied. For adiabatic index of 5/3, the solution was known to be self-similar, (of type I) for $α<3$, self-similar (of type II) for $α>3.26$, and unknown in between. We find a self-similar solution for $3<α<3.26$, 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).