Laboratory experiments of Radiative Shocks, in the context of stellar accretion

Abstract

International audienceRadiative shocks are high Mach number shocks with a strong coupling between radiation and hydrodynamics. These shocks occour in astrophysical system and in high-energy density laboratory experiments. High-energy lasers can be used to simulate astrophysical phenomena in the Laboratory. PALS Laser facility provides irradiance of 10¹4 W/cm², lasting less than 1 ns, and allows to produce radiative shocks in high atomic gas medium at low pressure. The radiative energy is converted into mechanical energy, generating the shock in the gas. The system is optimized for reaching conditions where the shock is radiative, i.e. it presents a radiative precursor. The experimental results of two new diagnostics: first a XUV instantaneous imaging at 21.2 mm, and second, a time and space resolved plasma self-emission using fast diodes will be highlighted. communication orale Atelier S08 Actes à paraître 2013 sur le site de la SF2