Target Design for XUV Probing of Radiative Shock Experiments

TL;DR

This paper details the design of experiments and diagnostics for studying radiative shocks in xenon gas using high-power lasers, enabling simultaneous imaging of post-shock and precursor regions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel target design and diagnostic approach for XUV probing of radiative shocks in laboratory astrophysics experiments.

Findings

Successful design of a target for radiative shock experiments

Feasibility of XUV imaging diagnostic at 21 nm wavelength

Ability to visualize both post-shock and precursor regions

Abstract

Radiative shocks are strong shocks characterized by plasma at a high temperature emitting an important fraction of its energy as radiation. Radiative shocks are commonly found in many astrophysical systems and are templates of radiative hydrodynamic flows, which can be studied experimentally using high-power lasers. This is not only important in the context of laboratory astrophysics but also to benchmark numerical studies. We present details on the design of experiments on radiative shocks in xenon gas performed at the kJ scale PALS laser facility. It includes technical specifications for the tube targets design and numerical studies with the 1-D radiative hydrodynamics code MULTI. Emphasis is given to the technical feasibility of an XUV imaging diagnostic with a 21 nm (~58 eV) probing beam, which allows to probe simultaneously the post-shock and the precursor region ahead of the shock. The novel design of the target together with the improved X-ray optics and XUV source allow to show both the dense post-shock structure and the precursor of the radiative shock.