Waves produced from a harmonic point source in a supersonic boundary layer

The disturbance wave pattern produced by a harmonic point source in a compressible flat-plate boundary layer is computed using linear stability theory and direct numerical integration approach. Receptivity coefficients are computed for the spectrum of spanwise modes generated at the source. The effect of boundary layer growth on the development of linear waves is determined by using the method of multiple scales. Results are presented for Mach numbers of 0, 2, 4.5, and 7. It is found that disturbances spread in wedge-shaped regions behind the source and the wedge angle decreases with Mach number. The lateral spreading angle for the instability waves turns out to be quite close to the angle found experimentally for turbulence lateral contamination.