Supersonic Propagation of an Ionization Front in Low Density Foam Targets Driven by Thermal Radiation

Abstract

Observations of the sustained propagation of a supersonic ionization front, produced by an intense pulse of thermal radiation in low density foam targets, are reported. The position of the front was observed with a high resolution soft x-ray imaging system (at 50 and 70 \AA{}), using 1D continuous streaks and 2D gated images. The experimental observations were in good agreement with 1D and 2D radiation hydrodynamic code simulations.