Using wall shocks to measure preheat in laser-irradiated, high-energy-density, hydrodynamics experiments

Laser-irradiated, high-energy-density (HED) physics experiments commonly use experimental targets that are contained in a shock tube. X-rays generated when the laser irradiates the target surface are believed to be energetic enough to heat the tube wall material and generate a secondary shock. The speed of this secondary shock can be used to assess the amount of preheat in an experimental system. This paper describes an experiment that explores the hydrodynamic instabilities believed to occur in core-collapse supernova. The preheat in the system can affect the initial conditions of HED experiments causing unintended heating of material.