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A converging-diverging nozzle that can accelerate a compressible flow from subsonic to supersonic speed through a sonic throat. The nozzle area-velocity relation requires acceleration in a converging subsonic section and a diverging supersonic section. Reservoir and downstream pressures determine whether this transonic branch operates; the shape alone does not ensure choked flow.

For a barotropic fluid, define $h(\rho )=\int dp/\rho$. Dotting the steady Euler equation with $\mathbf{u}$ givesThus the Bernoulli function $H=u^2/2+h+\psi$ is constant along each streamline. Different streamlines can have different constants; steady flow alone does not imply one spatially uniform $H$.

In a quasi-one-dimensional flow through area $A(z)$ with negligible gravity, the axial momentum equation and $dp=c_s^{2}d\rho$ giveMeanwhile the mass flow rate $\dot{M}=\rho uA$ is constant, so $d\ln \rho =-d\ln u-d\ln A$. Substitution proves the nozzle area-velocity relationA subsonic flow accelerates where $A$ decreases, whereas a supersonic flow accelerates where $A$ increases. A smooth accelerating transonic branch in a de Laval nozzle therefore crosses $u=c_s$ at a minimum-area throat. Suitable reservoir and downstream pressures are also required: a converging-diverging shape by itself does not exclude a wholly subsonic solution or a downstream shock.

For the stipulated constant-$K$ polytropic flow, $c_s^2=\gamma K{\rho }^{\gamma -1}$. At the throat $u_m=c_{s,m}$, soThe specific enthalpy is $h=\gamma K{\rho }^{\gamma -1}/(\gamma -1)=c_s^2/(\gamma -1)$. Evaluating $H$ at the throat and substituting $\rho =\dot{M}/(Au)$ elsewhere givesOn the outward supersonic branch, $A\sim C{r}^2$ lets the gas expand and its specific enthalpy tend to zero for $\gamma >1$. ConsequentlyFor $\gamma =5/3$, $u_{\infty }=2c_{s,m}$. Also $T\propto {\rho }^{\gamma -1}\propto r^{-2(\gamma -1)}$. These are the adiabatic nozzle terminal speed and expansion laws for a lossless escaping branch; a subsonic branch could instead approach finite pressure with $u\propto A^{-1}$. A pressure-shaped astrophysical jet is being approximated by a nozzle here: the assumed geometry does not by itself explain the confinement or account for magnetic forces or relativistic motion in an actual active galactic nucleus.

Treat the gas as a smooth quasi-one-dimensional flow through a rigid passage, neglecting axial body forces and heat input. It is the confining medium that is incompressible; the flowing gas must remain compressible. With area $\mathcal{A}(x)$ and axial speed $u$, continuity and inviscid momentum balance giveCombining their logarithmic differentials yields the nozzle area-velocity relationA smooth crossing of $\mathcal{M}=1$ requires an area extremum. The given radius is positive and has derivative $r^{\prime }(x)=16r_{0}x\exp [-16x^2/L^2]/L^2$, which vanishes only at $x=0$ within the slab and changes from negative to positive there. Thus this station is the unique throat, with $r_s=r_0/2$ and ${\mathcal{A}}_s=\pi r_0^2/4$. The specified subsonic inlet and supersonic outlet select the smooth accelerating branch, soA throat by itself does not guarantee transonic flow for arbitrary reservoir and back pressures; that branch is specified here. Before the throat a converging section accelerates subsonic flow; beyond it a diverging section accelerates supersonic flow.^[ref]

For the temperature task, evaluate the mass flux and sound speed at the throat using $p=K{\rho }^{\gamma }$:The ideal-gas relation then givesThis expresses the sonic temperature in terms of the entropy constant, geometry, mass flux and composition; no numerical value of $K$ or $\dot{M}$ is provided. Equivalently $c_s^{\gamma +1}=\gamma K(\dot{M}/{\mathcal{A}}_s{)}^{\gamma -1}$ and $T_s=\mu c_s^2/(\gamma R^{\ast })$. The slab length drops out because the sonic thermodynamic state depends on the minimum area, not on the axial distance over which a lossless smooth nozzle contracts. As a check, conserved stagnation enthalpy gives $T_s=2T_{\mathrm{stag}}/(\gamma +1)$.^[ref]

The result assumes cross-sectional thermodynamic uniformity and negligible transverse kinetic energy. Exact multidimensional flow through a sharply varying passage can have a curved sonic surface; the radius profile alone does not solve that boundary-value problem. The original numerical plot below computes the standard quasi-one-dimensional branch, rather than reproducing the supplied passage sketch.