Density profile in shock wave fronts of partially ionized xenon plasmas

Results for the reflection coefficient o fs hock-compressed dense xenon plasmas at pressures of 1.6–20 GPa and temperatures around 30 000 K are interpreted. In addition to former experiments using laser beams with λ = 1.06 µm, measurements at λ = 0.694 µ mh av eb een performed recently. Reflectivities typical for metallic systems are found at high densities. Besides free carriers, th et heoretical description also takes into account the influence of the neutral component of the plasma on the reflectivity. A consistent description of the measured reflectivities is achieved only if a finite width of the shock wave front is considered.