Recent NOVA laser experiments featuring ablatively-generated data on very small liquid deuterium samples have shown an unexpected degree of compressibility in deuterium as it undergoes molecular dissociation to a metallic phase above 25 GPa. To test these controversial results under somewhat different shock loading conditions, we have developed a cryogenic target system on the Sandia Z pulsed radiation source for precision EOS studies of liquid deuterium using radiation-driven shocks. Experiments are underway to develop a constant pressure drive of 10–20 ns duration spatially uniform over a relatively large area (3–4 mm diameter) with minimal preheat effects. Techniques are also being developed to perform fiber-optic-coupled VISAR interferometry, active shock breakout, and optical spectroscopy measurements on the stepped Al pusher plate and liquid deuterium sample in the Z bremsstrahlung environment. Initial VISAR measurements have been able to track the highly reflective metalized shock front propagating in deuterium at pressures of about 55 Gpa. ©2000 American Institute of Physics.