Mathematical modeling of experiments on the interaction of a high-power ultraviolet laser pulse with condensed targets

Abstract

Objectives. The paper aimed to review and analyze the results of works devoted to numerical modeling of experiments on the interaction of high-power ultraviolet (UV) laser pulses with condensed targets. The experiments were carried out at GARPUN, the powerful KrF-laser facility at the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow). The relevance of the research is related to the use of excimer UV lasers as a driver for a thermonuclear reactor. Physical aspects of laser-plasma interaction, including those related to the possibility of using two-sided cone target in a fission-fusion reactor, are discussed.Methods. The research is based on physico-mathematical models, including Euler and Lagrange.Results. The mathematical modeling of three types of natural experiments is presented: (1) burning through different thicknesses of Al foils by high-power UV laser; (2) studying hydrodynamic instability development at the UV laser acceleration of thin polymer films and features of turbulent zone formation; (3) interaction of high-power UV laser pulses with two-layer targets (Al + Plexiglas) and study of fine structures. Numerical modeling showed that a hybrid reactor with UV laser driver can use targets in the form of two-sided counter cones.Conclusions. Physico-mathematical models are developed along with 2D codes in Lagrangian and Eulerian coordinates as confirmed in the results of natural experiments. The models can be used to describe the physics of high-power UV laser pulses interacting with various targets and forecast the results of reactor-scale experiments.