[bscholl]

Sonic boom physics are subtle and counter-intuitive. High level, you: (1) keep the airplane as small and light as possible (reduces total shock energy) (2) carefully shape the fuselage and wings, so the shocks don't combine as strongly

[dghughes]

NASA and Boeing have a design that has the engines on the upper part of the wings saying it reflects most of the boom upward. (see ninth paragraph) https://www.nasa.gov/aero/centers_tackle_sonic_boom.html