Fig. 1. (a) Simulated mass density and (b) simulated electron temperature at 16 ns. (c) Experimental X-ray backlighting at 25 ns. The dashed lines mark the position of the diagnostic window on the gas-cell targets.

Fig. 2. Electron temperature (dashed lines) and mass density profiles of one of the radiative shocks as a function of time and position obtained with the 2D radiative-hydrodynamic simulation.

Fig. 3. Axial electron temperature (orange) and mass density (blue) profiles of one of the radiative shocks at 8 ns and 16 ns, deduced from the 2D radiation-hydrodynamics simulations. An electron density profile is also represented in green at 16 ns.

Fig. 4. Charge state distribution (CSD) as a function of the electron temperature at the mass density in the radiative precursor ().

Fig. 5. Division of layers of the radiative precursor at . Layer 1 is located closest to shock front, and layer 4 furthest.

Fig. 6. Specific intensities of the radiation emitted by different layers in the radiative precursor.

Fig. 7. Monochromatic opacities of the radiative precursor at four characteristic temperatures (, , and 20 eV).

Fig. 8. (a) Charge state distributions and (b) their monochromatic emissivities for two plasma conditions of the post-shock medium at 8 ns.

Fig. 9. Specific intensity of the radiation emitted by the post-shock medium at 8 ns.