Laser-plasma interaction and high-pressure generation for inertialfusion and basic science1

Abstract

Short-wavelength pulsed lasers can generate extreme conditions in smallsamples of matter. In particular, nanosecond pulses of submicrometrewavelength can drive collisional shock waves with pressures even in excess of100 Mbar. A major application is inertial confinement fusion (ICF), butsimulation of astrophysical processes and materials studies are receivingincreasing attention. In this paper, the fundamentals of ablative pressuregeneration in the collisional absorption regime are first reviewed. The basicICF requirements and practical schemes for the achievement of the neededpressures (of the order of 100 Gbar) are then considered. Issues concerningenergy coupling, pressure amplification, shock uniformity, and hydrodynamicstability are briefly addressed. In conclusion, a few achievements arementioned, and their implications for planned ICF ignition experiments arediscussed.