Novel diagnostic of low-Z shock compressed material

An experiment was performed using high-energy protons, generated by an intense short laser pulse, to try to characterize in situ, the spatial and temporal evolution of a laser-driven shock propagating through a low-Z material. Radiography of the shock propagating through the low-Z transparent material could lead to density determination under compression. A first test of a proton radiography of the rear-side released state of a shocked aluminum foil has also been tried.