Decompressive (cooling rarefaction) shock in optically thin radiative plasma

It is shown that the decompressive shock, i.e. a shock where the pressure behind the front is smaller than the pressure ahead of it, is possible in a radiative plasma. This is in contrast to the situation in classic gas dynamics. An example of a steady-state decompressive shock wave for a simple, but realistic model for radiative losses, is presented. It is shown that it satisfies the Landau stability criteria