Physics and applications with laser-induced relativistic shock waves

Abstract

The laser-induced relativistic shock waves are described. The shock waves can be created directly by a high irradiance laser or indirectly by a laser acceleration of a foil that collides with a second static foil. A special case of interest is the creation of laser-induced fusion where the created alpha particles create a detonation wave. A novel application is suggested with the shock wave or the detonation wave to ignite a pre-compressed target. In particular, the deuteriumtritium fusion is considered. It is suggested that the collision of two laser accelerated foils might serve as a novel relativistic accelerator for bulk material collisions.

Collisional shock waves induced by laser radiation pressure

“…The double layer (DL) separates the propagation path of the laser pulse from the shocked plasma. The structure of the piston and the relation between its velocity and the laser intensity were described analytically and as well obtained in particle in cell simulations (Esirkepov et al, 2004;Naumova et al, 2009;Schlegel et al, 2009;Eliezer et al, 2014Eliezer et al, , 2016Schmidt and Boine-Frankenheim, 2016). The laser piston as a mechanism of particle acceleration to relativistic velocities was described in papers by Robinson et al, 2009 andMacchi, 2013 and references therein.…”