Observation of a velocity domain cooling instability in a radiative shock

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Nov 12;105(20):205003. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.205003. Epub 2010 Nov 10.

Abstract

We report on experimental investigations into strong, laser-driven, radiative shocks in cluster media. Cylindrical shocks launched with several joules of deposited energy exhibit strong radiative effects including rapid deceleration, radiative preheat, and shell thinning. Using time-resolved propagation data from single-shot streaked Schlieren measurements, we have observed temporal modulations on the shock velocity, which we attribute to the thermal cooling instability, a process which is believed to occur in supernova remnants but until now has not been observed experimentally.