Explosive shock tube of xenon non-ideal plasma for proton radiography

A high explosive shock tube of non-ideal gaseous plasma for proton radiography is described. The gas dynamic flow in the shock compressed xenon at initial pressure of 7 bar was investigated in the tube. The velocity of the shock wave in xenon and the associated particle velocity were measured by a high-speed rotating mirror streak camera. Experimental time-distance data was used for approximation of the velocities by exponential decay functions. The shock tube is intended for generation of non-ideal plasma of xenon at the pressure of 5-12 kbar, the density of 0.24-0.3 g/cm(3) when the initial pressure is about 7 bar.