Dense plasma heating and shock wave generation by a beam of fast electrons.

Hot electrons created in laser plasma interaction at laser intensities 1 - 10PWcm-2 in shock ignition scheme can deposit their energy in the shell of the target, augmenting the strength of the ignitor shock. Here, we present a model that describes the effect of the spatial profile of fast electron energy deposition on the dynamics of shock wave formation. A criterion of a strong shock formation is obtained for an arbitrary electron beam distribution function. It is shown that the time and the position of the shock formation are defined by the electron average stopping range, while the strength of the shock decreases as the width of electron energy distribution increases. The latter feature is explained by the fast electron target preheat. The conclusions of theoretical model are confirmed in numerical simulations. The pressure, the strength of the shock, and the efficiency of shock generation are calculated for different electron distributions with the same average stopping range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]