Dynamic Behavior of Rippled Shock Waves and Subsequently Induced Areal-Density-Perturbation Growth in Laser-Irradiated Foils

Abstract

Polystyrene foils with surface ripples of 60 or 100 \ensuremath{\mu}m wavelength were irradiated by 0.53 \ensuremath{\mu}m laser light at an intensity of $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}$ W/c${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$. Phase inversion of the rippled shock front was observed at a shock-propagation distance equal to the ripple wavelength. It has been found that the growth of the areal-density perturbation prior to shock breakout is due predominantly to the rippled-shock propagation.