A new approach to target development for laboratory astrophysics experiments at high power laser facilities is presented. With the dawn of high power lasers, laboratory astrophysics emerged as a field, bringing insight into physical processes in astrophysical objects, such as formation of stars. An important factor for success on these experiments is targetry. To date, targets have mainly relied on expensive and challenging microfabrication methods. The design presented incorporates replaceable machined parts which assemble into a structure that defines the experimental geometry. This can make targets cheaper and faster to manufacture, while maintaining robustness and reproducibility. The platform is intended for experiments on plasma flows, but it is flexible and may be adapted to the constraints of other experimental setups. Examples of targets used in experimental campaigns are shown, including a design for insertion in a high magnetic field coil. Experimental results are included demonstrating the performance of the targets.

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Abstract. Study of high temperature steam oxidation kinetics during the high temperature oxidation was carried out on the sponge base E110 cladding tubes material in the temperature range 600-1300°C. The oxidation kinetics derived from the weight gain measurements showed a parabolic rate law for temperatures 1100°C and higher only. For lower temperatures in range 800-1050°C especially, the parabolic law leads to very conservative prediction. Therefore, the new oxidation kinetics, different from the parabolic law, was designed. The experimental database containing more than 800 data points was compared with the new developed UJP-correlation and available correlations for E110 and Zircaloy alloys. Statistical analysis for all tested correlations was provided.