We report new experimental results on radiative shocks obtained in Xenon and Argon in gas cells at two different pressures below 1 bar. These shock waves are generated by the interaction of the PALS iodine laser on a CH–Au foil with a typical velocity in the range of 50–100 km/s depending on the variable laser intensity, pressure, and gas. Attention is paid to the morphology and the dynamics of the radiative precursor over large time scales up to 30 ns, using 2D sub-picosecond visible interferometry, illustrating the complex interplay of hydrodynamic and radiation absorption for different initial conditions. The comparison between 1D and 2D simulations confirms the role played by lateral radiative losses in the ionization wave and the necessity of state-of-the-art integrated opacities. This study is complemented by the first XUV analysis of the shock emission between 5 and 20 nm obtained with a grating spectrometer, with line identification, which is compatible with the ionization stages deduced from interferometry and simulations.

We report on the design and first results from experiments looking at the formation of radiative shocks on the Shenguang-II (SG-II) laser at the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics in China. Laser-heating of a two-layer CH/CH–Br foil drives a $\sim 40$ km/s shock inside a gas cell filled with argon at an initial pressure of 1 bar. The use of gas-cell targets with large (several millimetres) lateral and axial extent allows the shock to propagate freely without any wall interactions, and permits a large field of view to image single and colliding counter-propagating shocks with time-resolved, point-projection X-ray backlighting ($\sim 20$ μm source size, 4.3 keV photon energy). Single shocks were imaged up to 100 ns after the onset of the laser drive, allowing to probe the growth of spatial nonuniformities in the shock apex. These results are compared with experiments looking at counter-propagating shocks, showing a symmetric drive that leads to a collision and stagnation from $\sim 40$ ns onward. We present a preliminary comparison with numerical simulations with the radiation hydrodynamics code ARWEN, which provides expected plasma parameters for the design of future experiments in this facility.

Radiative shocks are strong shocks characterized by plasma at a high temperature emitting an important fraction of its energy as radiation. Radiative shocks are commonly found in many astrophysical systems and are templates of radiative hydrodynamic flows, which can be studied experimentally using high-power lasers. This is not only important in the context of laboratory astrophysics but also to benchmark numerical studies. We present details on the design of experiments on radiative shocks in xenon gas performed at the kJ scale PALS laser facility. It includes technical specifications for the tube targets design and numerical studies with the 1-D radiative hydrodynamics code MULTI. Emphasis is given to the technical feasibility of an XUV imaging diagnostic with a 21 nm (~58 eV) probing beam, which allows to probe simultaneously the post-shock and the precursor region ahead of the shock. The novel design of the target together with the improved X-ray optics and XUV source allow to show both the dense post-shock structure and the precursor of the radiative shock.

Context. Material accreted onto classical T Tauri stars is expected to form a hot quasi-periodic plasma structure that radiates in X-rays. Simulations of this phenomenon only partly match observations. They all rely on a static model for the chromosphere and on the assumption that radiation and matter are decoupled.Aims. We explore the effects of a shock-heated chromosphere and of the coupling between radiation and hydrodynamics on the structure and dynamics of the accretion flow.Methods. We simulated accretion columns that fall onto a stellar chromosphere using the 1D ALE code AstroLabE. This code solves the hydrodynamics equations along with the first two moment equations for radiation transfer, with the help of a dedicated opacity table for the coupling between matter and radiation. We derive the total electron and ion densities from collisional-radiative model.Results. The chromospheric acoustic heating affects the duration of the cycle and the structure of the heated slab. In addition, the coupling between radiation and hydrodynamics leads to a heating of the accretion flow and of the chromosphere: the whole column is pushed up by the inflating chromosphere over several times the steady chromosphere thickness. These last two conclusions are in agreement with the computed monochromatic intensity. Acoustic heating and radiation coupling affect the amplitude and temporal variations of the net X-ray luminosity, which varies between 30 and 94% of the incoming mechanical energy flux, depending on which model is considered.

Past high-energy density laboratory experiments provided insights into the physics of supernovae, supernova remnants, and the destruction of interstellar clouds. In a typical experimental setting, a laser-driven planar blast wave interacts with a compositionally-homogeneous spherical or cylindrical target. In this work we propose a new laboratory platform that accounts for curvature of the impacting shock and density stratification of the target. Both characteristics reflect the conditions expected to exist shortly after a supernova explosion in a close binary system. We provide details of a proposed experimental design (laser drive, target configuration, diagnostic system), optimized to capture the key properties of recent ejecta-companion interaction models. Good qualitative agreement found between our experimental models and their astrophysical counterparts highlights strong potential of the proposed design to probe details of the ejecta-companion interaction for broad classes of objects by means of high energy density laboratory experiments.

Context. Accreted material onto CTTSs is expected to form a hot quasi-periodic plasma structure that radiates in X-rays. Simulations of this phenomenon only partly match with observations. They all rely on a static model for the chromosphere model and on the assumption that radiation and matter are decoupled. Aims. We explore the effects on the structure and on the dynamics of the accretion flow of both a shock-heated chromosphere and of the coupling between radiation and hydrodynamics. Methods. We simulate accretion columns falling onto a stellar chromosphere using the 1D ALE code AstroLabE. This code solves the hydrodynamics equations along with the two first momenta equations for radiation transfer, with the help of a dedicated opacity table for the coupling between matter and radiation. We derive the total electron and ions densities from collisional-radiative NLTE ionisation equilibrium. Results. The chromospheric acoustic heating has an impact on the duration of the cycle and on the structure of the heated slab. In addition, the coupling between radiation and hydrodynamics leads to a heating of the accretion flow and the chromosphere, inducing a possible unburial of the whole column. These two last conclusions are in agreement with the computed monochromatic intensity. Both effects (acoustic heating and radiation coupling) have an influence on the amplitude and temporal variations of the net X-ray luminosity, which varies between 30 and 94 model considered.

The first stages of pre-main sequence stars evolution are governed by exchanges of mass and momentum between the proto-star and its accretion disk. These quantities remain uncertain due to numerous unanswered questions concerning the topology of the accretion flow, its temperature, and its dynamics. In this work, we first present 1D simulations of accretion columns falling onto a a stellar chromosphere; the goal is to inspect the feedback of the dynamics of the chromosphere on the accretion flow. Then, we analyze the effect of radiation absorption and emission on the flow. The simulations take benefit of a newly generated base of opacities computed by SYNSPEC code for the conditions of the present astrophysical process. We finally present our perspectives on this topic.

Classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs) are young low-mass stellar objects accreting mass from their circumstellar disks. They are characterized by high levels of coronal activity as revealed by X-ray observations. This activity may affect the disk stability and the circumstellar environment. Here we investigate if an intense coronal activity due to flares occurring close to the accretion disk may perturb the inner disk stability, disrupt the inner part of the disk and, possibly, trigger accretion phenomena with rates comparable with those observed. We model a magnetized protostar surrounded by an accretion disk through 3D magnetohydrodinamic simulations. We explore cases characterized by a dipole plus an octupole stellar magnetic field configuration and different density of the disk or by different levels of flaring activity. As a result of the simulated intense flaring activity, we observe the formation of several loops that link the star to the disk; all these loops build up a hot extended corona with an X-ray luminosity comparable with typical values observed in CTTSs. The intense flaring activity close to the disk can strongly perturb the disk stability. The flares trigger overpressure waves which travel through the disk and modify its configuration. Accretion funnels may be triggered by the flaring activity, thus contributing to the mass accretion rate of the star. Accretion rates synthesized from the simulations are in a range between 10^-10 and 10^-9M_sun yr^-1 The accretion columns can be perturbed by the flares and they can interact with each other, possibly merging together in larger streams. As a result, the accretion pattern can be rather complex: the streams are highly inhomogeneous, with a complex density structure, and clumped

Classical T Tauri Stars (CTTSs) are young stars accreting mass from their circumstellar disks. According to the largely accepted magnetospheric accretion scenario, the disk extends up to the truncation radius. In this region, the magnetic field is strong enough to disrupt the inner part of the disk and to channel the material towards the star forming accretion columns. The channeled material impacts onto the stellar surface producing shocks that heat up the plasma at a few million degrees. In the last twenty years, the X-ray and UV observations of these systems have raised several questions. In particular, the UV lines arising from the accretion regions show complex profiles, which cannot be easily interpreted using current accretion models. Moreover, the observed X-ray luminosity is systematically below the value predicted by theoretical models. To tackle these problems, we modeled the structure and the dynamics of the plasma in the impact region using radiation hydrodynamics simulations, including, for the first time, the effects of radiative transport in the Non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) regime. The radiation arising from the shocked plasma is partially absorbed by the unshocked accretion column. As a result, due to the absorption of Xrays arising from the shocked plasma at the impact region, the pre-shock down-falling accreted material is gradually heated up to a few 105 K. We discuss the implication of this pre-shock heating for the UV and X-ray emission arising from the impact region.

Context.Material accreted onto classical T Tauri stars is expected to form a hot quasi-periodic plasma structure that radiates in X-rays. Simulations of this phenomenon only partly match observations. They all rely on a static model for the chromosphere and on the assumption that radiation and matter are decoupled.Aims.We explore the effects of a shock-heated chromosphere and of the coupling between radiation and hydrodynamics on the structure and dynamics of the accretion flow.Methods.We simulated accretion columns that fall onto a stellar chromosphere using the 1D ALE code AstroLabE. This code solves the hydrodynamics equations along with the first two moment equations for radiation transfer, with the help of a dedicated opacity table for the coupling between matter and radiation. We derive the total electron and ion densities from collisional-radiative model.Results.The chromospheric acoustic heating affects the duration of the cycle and the structure of the heated slab. In addition, the coupling between radiation and hydrodynamics leads to a heating of the accretion flow and of the chromosphere: the whole column is pushed up by the inflating chromosphere over several times the steady chromosphere thickness. These last two conclusions are in agreement with the computed monochromatic intensity. Acoustic heating and radiation coupling affect the amplitude and temporal variations of the net X-ray luminosity, which varies between 30 and 94% of the incoming mechanical energy flux, depending on which model is considered.

Context. Models and observations indicate that the impact of matter accreting onto the surface of young stars produces regions at the base of accretion columns where optically thin and thick plasma components coexist. Thus, an accurate description of these impacts is necessary to account for the effects of absorption and emission of radiation. Aims. We study the effects of radiation emerging from shock-heated plasma in impact regions on the structure of the pre-shock down-falling material. We investigate whether a significant absorption of radiation occurs and if it leads to a pre-shock heating of the accreting gas. Methods. We developed a radiation hydrodynamics model describing an accretion column impacting onto the surface of a classical T Tauri star. The model takes into account the stellar gravity, the thermal conduction, and the effects of radiative losses and of absorption of radiation by matter in the nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium regime. Results. After the impact, a hot slab of post-shock plasma develops at the base of the accretion column. Part of the radiation emerging from the slab is absorbed by the pre-shock accreting material. As a result, the pre-shock accretion column gradually heats up to temperatures of 10(5) K, forming a radiative precursor of the shock. The precursor has a thermal structure with the hottest part at T approximate to 10(5) K, with a size comparable to that of the hot slab, above the post-shock region. At larger distances the temperature gradually decreases to T approximate to 10(4) K. Conclusions. Our model predicts that approximate to 70% of the radiation emitted by the post-shock plasma is absorbed by the pre-shock accretion column immediately above the slab and is re-emitted in the UV band. This may explain why accretion rates derived from UV observations are systematically higher than rates inferred from X-ray observations.

We present the features of the three-dimensional (3D) radiative transfer code IRIS, which synthesizes spectra emitted from hydrodynamics structures. We discuss our first application of IRIS to the analysis of a laboratory radiative shock. We demonstrate, with the help of the radiation hydrodynamics (RHD) code HERACLES, the existence of a radiative precursor. We validate the gray approximated model M-1 used by HERACLES. We show a couple of synthesized X-UV spectra of such a shock. We finally open up our discussion to the future possibilities of spectroscopic diagnostics of accreting streams onto the surface of Classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs).

Context. Modeling the dynamics of most astrophysical structures requires an adequate description of the interaction of radiation and matter. Several numerical (magneto-) hydrodynamics codes were upgraded with a radiation module to fulfill this request. However, those that used either the flux-limited diffusion (FLD) or the M1 radiation moment approaches are restricted to local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). This assumption may not be valid in some astrophysical cases. Aims. We present an upgraded version of the LTE radiation-hydrodynamics (RHD) module implemented in the PLUTO code, which we have extended to handle non-LTE regimes. Methods. Starting from the general frequency-integrated comoving-frame equations of RHD, we have justified all the assumptions that were made to obtain the non-LTE equations that are implemented in the module under the FLD approximation. An operator-split method with two substeps was employed: the hydrodynamics part was solved with an explicit method by the solvers that are currently available in PLUTO, and the non-LTE radiation diffusion and energy exchange part was solved with an implicit method. The module was implemented in the PLUTO environment. It uses databases of radiative quantities that can be provided independently by the user: the radiative power loss, and the Planck and Rosseland mean opacities. In our case, these quantities were determined from a collisional-radiative steady-state model, and they are tabulated as functions of temperature and density. Results. Our implementation has been validated through different tests, in particular, radiative shock tests. The agreement with the semi-analytical solutions (when available) is good, with a maximum error of 7%. Moreover, we have proved that a non-LTE approach is of paramount importance to properly model accretion shock structures. Conclusion. Our radiation FLD module represents a step toward a general non-LTE RHD modeling.

CTTSs are young stars accreting mass from their circumstellar disks. The material falls into the star at free fall velocity and hits the stellar surface producing shocks, that heat the plasma at few million degrees. In the last twenty years the X-ray and UV observations of these systems have raised several questions. In particular, the observed X-ray luminosity is systematically below the value predicted by theoretical models, and the UV lines show complex profiles which cannot be easily interpreted with current accretion models based only on magnetohydrodynamical effects. To tackle these problems we modeled the structure and the dynamics of the plasma in the impact region using 3D magnetohydrodynamical simulations, but including the effects of radiative transport, for the first time in the Non Local Thermodynamical Equilibrium (NLTE) regime. We found that the radiation arising from the shocked plasma is partially absorbed by the unshocked accretion column, and this might explain the excess of X-ray flux predicted by MHD models which do not include absorption effects. Moreover, due to the absorption of radiation, the pre-shock downfalling accreted material is gradually heated up to a few 105 K due to irradiation of X-rays arising from the shocked plasma at the impact region. We discuss the implication of this pre-shock heating for the UV and X-ray emission arising from the impact region.

Accretion of matter is a process that plays a central role in the physics of young stellar objects. The analysis of the structure by which matter settles on the star can unveil key information about the process of star formation by providing details on mass accretion rates, stellar magnetic field configurations, possible effects of accretion on the stellar coronal activity, etc. Here we review some of the achievements obtained by our group by exploiting a multi-disciplinary approach based on the analysis of multi-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations, multi-wavelength observations, and laboratory experiments of accretion impacts occurring onto the surface of classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs).

Context. Models and observations indicate that the impact of matter accreting onto the surface of young stars produces regions at the base of accretion columns where optically thin and thick plasma components coexist. Thus, an accurate description of these impacts is necessary to account for the effects of absorption and emission of radiation. Aims. We study the effects of radiation emerging from shock-heated plasma in impact regions on the structure of the pre-shock down-falling material. We investigate whether a significant absorption of radiation occurs and if it leads to a pre-shock heating of the accreting gas. Methods. We developed a radiation hydrodynamics model describing an accretion column impacting onto the surface of a classical T Tauri star. The model takes into account the stellar gravity, the thermal conduction, and the effects of radiative losses and of absorption of radiation by matter in the nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium regime. Results. After the impact, a hot slab of post-shock plasma develops at the base of the accretion column. Part of the radiation emerging from the slab is absorbed by the pre-shock accreting material. As a result, the pre-shock accretion column gradually heats up to temperatures of 105 K, forming a radiative precursor of the shock. The precursor has a thermal structure with the hottest part at T ≈ 105 K, with a size comparable to that of the hot slab, above the post-shock region. At larger distances the temperature gradually decreases to T ≈ 104 K. Conclusions. Our model predicts that ≈70% of the radiation emitted by the post-shock plasma is absorbed by the pre-shock accretion column immediately above the slab and is re-emitted in the UV band. This may explain why accretion rates derived from UV observations are systematically higher than rates inferred from X-ray observations.

Despite intense observational work, the stellar accretion process is insufficiently constrained, and consequently the details in the exchange of mass and momentum between the proto-star and its accretion disk remain approximate.