Simulation of high-intensity laser–plasma interactions by use of the 2D Lagrangian code “ATLANT-HE”

Abstract

Hot electrons may significantly influence interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with solids. Accurate consideration of resonant absorption of laser energy and hot electron generation at a critical surface was achieved through the developed physical and mathematical models. A two-dimensional (2D) ray-tracing algorithm has been developed to simulate laser beam refraction and Bremsstrahlung absorption with allowance for nonlinear influence of a strong electromagnetic field. Hot electron transport was considered as a straight-line flow weakening by a friction force calculated in the approximation of the average state of ionization. Developed models were coupled with the 2D Lagrangian gas dynamic code “ATLANT” that takes into account nonlinear heat transport. The developed program has been applied to simulate irradiation of Al foils by picosecond laser double pulses. Hot electron transport and heating resulted in thin foil explosions. The transition from the exploding foil regime to the ablative one with foil thickening has been simulated and analyzed at various values of laser light intensity. In second series of calculations we have modeled the interaction of a nanosecond iodine laser with a two-layered target.