Laser driven shock waves propagating through foam targets have been diagnosed by side-on time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy. K-shell absorption spectra of chlorine, doped into the foam targets, were matched to a detailed atomic physics model to infer the temperature profile. The density distribution was obtained from the x-ray transmission through the target. 2D radiation-hydrodynamic modeling of the targets reproduced the experimental results. Preheating of material by radiation from the shocked region was shown to have an important contribution to the measured temperature profile.

• Received 5 June 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.3322