Radiative shocks in gas on the Omega laser
Abstract
A number of astrophysical systems involve radiative shocks that collapse spatially in response to the energy lost through radiation. This is believed to produce thin, dense, unstable shells. We have begun experiments on the Omega laser intended to produce such collapsing shocks and to study their evolution. The experiments use the laser to accelerate a thin slab of Be, which becomes a piston that drives a shock through 1.1 atm of Ar gas at 100 km/s. The shock is predicted to collapse. Experiments are in preparation that will detect the dense layer and also the radiative precursor in front of the shock. We will report their results.
- Publication:
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APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002APS..DPPGP1057R