Generation of Ultrahigh-Velocity Ionizing Shocks with Petawatt-Class Laser Pulses

Authors :: Nilson, P. M.
Mangles, S. P. D.
Willingale, L.
Kaluza, M. C.
Thomas, A. G. R.
Tatarakis, M.
Najmudin, Z.
Clarke, R. J.
Lancaster, K. L.
Karsch, S.
Schreiber, J.
Evans, R. G.
Dangor, A. E.
Krushelnick, K.
Nilson, P. M.
Mangles, S. P. D.
Willingale, L.
Kaluza, M. C.
Thomas, A. G. R.
Tatarakis, M.
Najmudin, Z.
Clarke, R. J.
Lancaster, K. L.
Karsch, S.
Schreiber, J.
Evans, R. G.
Dangor, A. E.
Krushelnick, K.
Publication Year :: 2009
Abstract: Ultrahigh-velocity shock waves (similar to 10 000 km/s or 0.03c) are generated by focusing a 350-TW laser pulse into low-density helium gas. The collisionless ultrahigh-Mach-number electrostatic shock propagates from the plasma into the surrounding gas, ionizing gas as it becomes collisional. The shock undergoes a corrugation instability due to propagation of the ionizing shock within the gas (the Dyakov-Kontorovich instability). This system may be relevant to the study of very high-Mach-number ionizing shocks in astrophysical situations.

Database :: OAIster
Notes :: Nilson, P. M. and Mangles, S. P. D. and Willingale, L. and Kaluza, M. C. and Thomas, A. G. R. and Tatarakis, M. and Najmudin, Z. and Clarke, R. J. and Lancaster, K. L. and Karsch, S. and Schreiber, J. and Evans, R. G. and Dangor, A. E. and Krushelnick, K. (2009) Generation of Ultrahigh-Velocity Ionizing Shocks with Petawatt-Class Laser Pulses. Physical review letters, 103 (25). ISSN 0031-9007
Publication Type :: Electronic Resource
Accession number :: edsoai.on1293437804
Document Type :: Electronic Resource

Tools