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Burn-through of thin aluminum foils by laser-driven ablation

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.325878· OSTI ID:5763642

Aluminum foils 1--75 ..mu..m thick were irradiated by 500-psec Nd-glass laser pulses with intensities 6 x 10/sup 12/ to 10/sup 14/ W/cm/sup 2/. The reflected and transmitted light and the produced x rays were measured using PIN photodiodes and crystal spectrometers. Two torsion pendula were used to measure the target and the plasma momenta. Both measurements are consistent with a simple hydrodynamic model. We obtain plasma pressures in the range 1.5--13 Mbars, shock-wave velocities between 0.9 x 10/sup 6/ and 2.6 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec, penetration depths of the ablation surface in the domain of 3--10 ..mu..m for laser intensities in the range 6 x 10/sup 12/ to 10/sup 14/ W/cm/sup 2/. The burn-through times (i.e., the times that a hole is opened in the foil) for foils 25, 50, and 75 ..mu..m thick are measured to be 8 +- 5, 18 +- 5, and 25 +- 5 nsec, respectively.

Research Organization:
Plasma Physics Department, Soreq Nuclear Research Centre, Yavne 70600, Israel
OSTI ID:
5763642
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 50:11; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English