Modeling of laser-generated radiative blast waves, with applications to late-term supernova remnants

dc.contributor.advisorLiang, Edison P.en_US
dc.creatorKeilty, Katherine Anneen_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-06-04T07:01:18Zen_US
dc.date.available2009-06-04T07:01:18Zen_US
dc.date.issued2003en_US
dc.description.abstractThe goal of laser astrophysics is to provide a means by which aspects of specific astrophysical phenomena can be reproduced in the laboratory. Although the hydrodynamic instabilities of early supernova remnants have already been studied using this method, the role of significant radiative losses in shock propagation (for example, in late-term remnants) has only been imperfectly modeled. This thesis introduces an improved self-similar analytic approach to radiative blast-wave evolution where the total amount of energy loss remains constant in proportion to the energy flux entering the shock front. The approximation is solved for the cases in which both energy loss from the shock front and heating of the shock (due to the presence of ionization precursors) are significant. Because this solution is independent of the exact method of cooling, it is appropriate for both the laboratory and astrophysical regimes. In addition, this thesis applies the analytic approximation to laboratory-produced radiative blast waves as well as to numerical models of these experimental blast waves. These results will allow for better design of laser-based experiments with further applications to astrophysical phenomena, as well as for an increase in the understanding of the challenges involved in scaling radiative phenomena between laboratory experiments and astrophysical theory.en_US
dc.format.extent138 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS PHYS. 2003 KEILTYen_US
dc.identifier.citationKeilty, Katherine Anne. "Modeling of laser-generated radiative blast waves, with applications to late-term supernova remnants." (2003) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/18544">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/18544</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/18544en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.en_US
dc.subjectAstronomyen_US
dc.subjectAstrophysicsen_US
dc.subjectPlasma physicsen_US
dc.titleModeling of laser-generated radiative blast waves, with applications to late-term supernova remnantsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPhysicsen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNatural Sciencesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US
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