<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">When intense short-pulse laser beams (<italic>I</italic> > 1022 W/m2, τ &lt; 20 ps) interact with high density plasmas, strong shock waves are launched. These shock waves may be generated by a range of processes, and the relative significance of the various mechanisms driving the formation of these shock waves is not well understood. It is challenging to obtain experimental data on shock waves near the focus of such intense laser–plasma interactions. The hydrodynamics of such interactions is, however, of great importance to fast ignition based inertial confinement fusion schemes as it places limits upon the time available for depositing energy in the compressed fuel, and thereby directly affects the laser requirements. In this manuscript we present the results of magnetohydrodynamic simulations showing the formation of shock waves under such conditions, driven by the <bold><italic>j</italic></bold> × <bold><italic>B</italic></bold> force and the thermal pressure gradient (where <bold><italic>j</italic></bold> is the current density and <bold><italic>B</italic></bold> the magnetic field strength). The time it takes for shock waves to form is evaluated over a wide range of material and current densities. It is shown that the formation of intense relativistic electron current driven shock waves and other related hydrodynamic phenomena may be expected over time scales of relevance to intense laser–plasma experiments and the fast ignition approach to inertial confinement fusion. A newly emerging technique for studying such interactions is also discussed. This approach is based upon Doppler spectroscopy and offers promise for investigating early time shock wave hydrodynamics launched by intense laser pulses.</abstract>

When intense short-pulse laser beams (I > 1022 W/m2, τ < 20 ps) interact with high density plasmas, strong shock waves are launched. These shock waves may be generated by a range of processes, and the relative significance of the various mechanisms driving the formation of these shock waves is not well understood. It is challenging to obtain experimental data on shock waves near the focus of such intense laser–plasma interactions. The hydrodynamics of such interactions is, however, of great importance to fast ignition based inertial confinement fusion schemes as it places limits upon the time available for depositing energy in the compressed fuel, and thereby directly affects the laser requirements. In this manuscript we present the results of magnetohydrodynamic simulations showing the formation of shock waves under such conditions, driven by the j × B force and the thermal pressure gradient (where j is the current density and B the magnetic field strength). The time it takes for shock waves to form is evaluated over a wide range of material and current densities. It is shown that the formation of intense relativistic electron current driven shock waves and other related hydrodynamic phenomena may be expected over time scales of relevance to intense laser–plasma experiments and the fast ignition approach to inertial confinement fusion. A newly emerging technique for studying such interactions is also discussed. This approach is based upon Doppler spectroscopy and offers promise for investigating early time shock wave hydrodynamics launched by intense laser pulses.

Generation of shock waves in dense plasmas by high-intensity laser pulses

Plasma Physics and Fusion Group, Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, U.K. and Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K., Tel.: 01904 322 276

Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.

Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, India

Plasma Physics Group, Department of Physics, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2BZ, U.K.

Nukleonika

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Generation of shock waves in dense plasmas by high-intensity laser pulses"}

When intense short-pulse laser beams (I > 1022 W/m2, τ < 20 ps) interact with high density plasmas, strong shock waves are launched. These shock waves may be...

Generation of shock waves in dense plasmas by high-intensity laser pulses

Published Online: Jun 22, 2015

Page range: 193 - 198

Received: Jun 16, 2014

Accepted: Oct 31, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0056

Keywords
shock waves, radiation hydrodynamics, laser–plasma interactions, fast ignition, inertial confinement fusion, Doppler spectroscopy

© John Pasley et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Generation of shock waves in dense plasmas by high-intensity laser pulses

Published Online: Jun 22, 2015

Page range: 193 - 198

Received: Jun 16, 2014

Accepted: Oct 31, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nuka-2015-0056

Keywordsshock waves, radiation hydrodynamics, laser–plasma interactions, fast ignition, inertial confinement fusion, Doppler spectroscopy

© John Pasley et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
shock waves, radiation hydrodynamics, laser–plasma interactions, fast ignition, inertial confinement fusion, Doppler spectroscopy