Laser-driven plasma jets propagating in an ambient gas studied with optical and proton diagnostics

Journal Article · Sat May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3431094· OSTI ID:21371136

Gregory, C D; Loupias, B; Koenig, M ^[1]; Waugh, J; Woolsey, N C ^[2]; Dono, S; Kuramitsu, Y; Sakawa, Y ^[3]; Bouquet, S; Falize, E ^[4]; Michaut, C ^[5]; Nazarov, W ^[6]; Pikuz, Jr, S A ^[7]

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1. Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, UMR7605, CNRS-CEA-Universite, Paris VI-Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex (France)
2. Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington YO10 5DD (United Kingdom)
3. Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 (Japan)
4. CEA-DAM-DIF, F-91297 Arpajon (France)
5. LUTH, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Universite Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen, 92190 Meudon (France)
6. School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, Purdie Blg, St Andrews KY16 9ST (United Kingdom)
7. Joint Institute for High Temperatures of RAS, Izhorskaya 13/19, Moscow 125412 (Russian Federation)

The results of an experiment to propagate laser-generated plasma jets into an ambient medium are presented. The jets are generated via laser irradiation of a foam-filled cone target, the results and characterization of which have been reported previously [Loupias et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 265001 (2007)] for propagation in vacuum. The introduction of an ambient medium of argon at varying density is seen to result in the formation of a shock wave, and the shock front displays perturbations that appear to grow with time. The system is diagnosed with the aid of proton radiography, imaging the perturbed structure in the dense parts of the shock with high resolution.

• OSTI ID: 21371136
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3431094; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ARGON
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA JETS
SHOCK WAVES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
NONMETALS
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES