  The interaction of supersonic laser-generated plasma jets with a secondary
gas target was studied experimentally. The plasma parameters of the jet, and
the resulting shock, were characterized using a combination of multi-frame
interferometry/shadowgraphy, and X-ray diagnostics, allowing for a detailed
study of their structure and evolution. The velocity was obtained with an X-ray
streak camera, and filtered X-ray pinhole imaging was used to infer the
electron temperature of the jet and shock. The topology of the ambient plasma
density was found to have a significant effect on the jet and shock formation,
as well as on their radiation characteristics. The experimental results were
compared with radiation hydrodynamic simulations, thereby providing further
insights into the underlying physical processes of the jet and shock formation
and evolution.
