Experimental Observation of a Radiative Wave Generated in Xenon by a Laser-Driven Supercritical Shock

First experimental evidence of a radiative wave propagating ahead of a supercritical shock is given. An aluminum piston driven by laser light at wavelengths of 1.06 and 0.35 μm induces the shock wave in xenon gas. The plane piston velocity ranges from 2.5 × ${10}^6$ to 1.2 × ${10}^7$ cm·${\mathrm{s}}^{-1\mathrm{}}$ and the gas pressure is up to 6 bars. Experimental results are in good agreement with a simple analytical model of the propagation of a radiative wave in front of a supercritical shock wave when the approximation of radiation heat conduction is assumed.