Semianalytical solution of the problem of converging shock waves.

An approach to the determination of the self-similarity parameter in the problem of converging strong shock waves is suggested. This approach allows one to obtain analytical expressions that approximate the numerical solution. For adiabatic constants gamma = 6/5-7, the values of the obtained self-similarity parameter differ by <1% from the values determined by the numerical procedure. In addition, accurate analytical characteristics of the reflected shock wave are obtained.