Stability of radiative shocks with time-dependent cooling

A full evolutionary calculation of ion abundances and radiative cooling has been incorporated into an accurate one-dimensional gasdynamics calculation in order to investigate the dynamics of radiative shock instability and to determine the extent to which power-law cooling models describe the situation. Radiative shocks are shown to be unstable for velocities of greater than about 140 km/s. The temperature dependence of cooling functions behind steady shocks suggests that the stability limit may depend upon the amplitude of the perturbation. Oscillation is noted in the fundamental oscillation mode.