Equation-of-state effects on laser-accelerated foils

Abstract

One-dimensional numerical calculations are made to simulate the acceleration of thin foils with high-power laser beams. The main objective is to study the effects of a realistic equation-of-state in contrast to an ideal gas approximation. Shock build-up and dynamics show marked differences, compression and entropy production are strongly reduced. The thermodynamic state of the accelerated, dense material is analyzed, and the concept of critical entropy is applied. The possibility of keeping the accelerated foils in a condensed state moving at velocities of more than 100 km/sec is discussed.