Collapsing radiative shocks in argon gas on the omega laser

A number of astrophysical systems involve radiative shocks that collapse spatially in response to energy lost through radiation. Supernova remnants are an example of systems that cool enough to radiatively collapse. This is believed to produce thin, dense shells that are Vishniac unstable. This type of instability may be responsible for the convoluted structure of supernova remnants such as the Cygnus Loop. We are conducting 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 driving material (beryllium) through 1.1 ATM of argon gas ({approx}2 mg/cc) at {approx}100 km/sec. The simulations also predict that the dense layer will be pushed ahead of the dense beryllium by the leading edge of the expansion of this material. The experiment is diagnosed in two ways. X-ray radiography has detected the presence of the dense shocked layer. These data indicate that the shock velocity is {approx}100 km/s. A unique, side-on application of the VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector) technique is used to detect frequency shifts from ionization and any reflections from the edge of the dense shocked layer.