Approximate solutions for isothermal flows behind strong spherical shocks with variable energy

Self-similar unsteady flows with zero temperature gradient behind strong spherical shocks propagating in non-uniform perfect gas at rest are investigated. The total energy of the flow is assumed to be varying with the shock radius obeying a power law. Approximate solutions in a closed analytical form are obtained using the integral method. Also these solutions are shown to be useful to calculate easily and quickly the shock temperature, X-ray surface brightness and luminosity which are important in astrophysical problems. It is found that these approximate solutions are in close agreement with numerical solutions.