Behavior of Ablation Plasma Produced by Pulsed Ion Beam

Abstract

Thin film production, flyer acceleration, and space propulsion system using ablation plasma produced by an intense pulsed ion beam have been studied. To control the generation of ablation plasma to adequate conditions is a key point for these applications. We studied the behavior of ablation plasma and target by a simple basic numerical hydrodynamic model. This paper discussed the ion beam irradiated angle and target materials effect to behavior of ablation plasma by comparison of numerical results to experimental ones. We could recognize that to change ion beam irradiation angle could affect plasma pressure and mass of ablated plasma without changing temperature significantly. Target materials changed velocity distribution of ablation plasma number density, electron number density, and temperature. Moreover, velocity distribution of ablation plasma number density was almost agreed well with an experimental data at various target materials.