Energy partition in high-Mach number collisionless shock experiments at NIF

Recent developments in high-energy-density laser facilities, such as NIF, are now enabling studies of high-Mach number collisionless shocks in the laboratory [1]. We will present the results of recent NIF experiments where Thomson scattering is used to characterize the evolution of the plasma density, temperature, and velocity during shock formation. In particular, we will discuss measurements of the electron and ion temperatures as function of time and connect those with models for how the kinetic energy of the plasma flows is partitioned between ions and electrons in a high Mach number collisionless shock.