Examples of designs for a laboratory radiative jet experiment using the Nova laser. The first design (a) uses an X‐ray drive to launch a converging shock. The second design (b) uses the plasma colliding on axis after shock breakout, somewhat like a miniature shape charge. Designs (c) and (d) use the ablation plasma stagnating on axis from illumination (c) with X‐rays and (d) with direct laser illumination.