One-dimensional numerical simulation of laser-driven flyer plates

Abstract

A one-dimensional (1D) bulk absorption model to simulate the accelerating process of laser-driven flyer plate is presented, in which the laser energy deposition and acceleration of flyer plates are included. In the laser intensity range of 108–1010W∕cm2, the gasdynamical behavior of the ablated foil plasma is described with a modified 1D Lagrangian hydrodynamic code. The histories and profiles of physical parameters including pressure, temperature, velocity, opacity, and average ionization charge number are given by this model. According to the calculation, an aluminum foil of original thickness of 10μm may be accelerated to a velocity of about 2km∕s, the calculated average ionized charge number of plasma Z is >3 peak temperature and plasma pressure are in the order of 2.1×105K and 1.5×103GPa, respectively, and the maximum Rosseland opacity is about 1.9×105cm−1. The calculated particle velocity distribution in plasma is linear, which confirms the assumption employed in the Gurney model.