Applications of Radiation-Driven Blast Waves at Z*

Radiation-driven blast waves (BWs) occur when the wave speed of an initially diffusive, supersonic radiation wave becomes subsonic and forms a radiographically-visible, hydrodynamic shock wave.~ BWs have been shown to be extremely energy sensitive, a fact we exploit as a calorimetry diagnostic. Experiments that use Sandia's Z-dynamic hohlraum as a quasi-Planckian radiation source often require accurate source energy measurements.~ We have used BWs as a principal diagnostic in experiments of hohlraum energy loss through diagnostic and entrance holes. We also intend to use BWs as a code validation technique for simulating the interaction between radiation-driven BWs sourced by a supernova with a companion star. We discuss experimental designs that use BWs as a diagnostic, and describe the computational and experimental uncertainties associated with BWs. This work was performed under the auspices of the Los Alamos National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy.