Isochoric Heating of Solid-Density Matter with an Ultrafast Proton Beam

TLDR

The study introduces a new picosecond isochoric heating technique that raises solid‑density matter to >10^5 J/g energy‑density plasma states. By generating an intense, ultrashort proton beam with a high‑intensity laser and focusing it onto a spherically shaped target, the material is heated to several eV—up to >20 eV—within a time shorter than hydrodynamic expansion, producing a solid‑density warm dense plasma. This ultrafast proton heating method uniquely produces isochorically heated high‑energy‑density plasma states.

Abstract

A new technique is described for the isochoric heating (i.e., heating at constant volume) of matter to high energy-density plasma states (>10(5) J/g) on a picosecond time scale (10(-12)sec). An intense, collimated, ultrashort-pulse beam of protons--generated by a high-intensity laser pulse--is used to isochorically heat a solid density material to a temperature of several eV. The duration of heating is shorter than the time scale for significant hydrodynamic expansion to occur; hence the material is heated to a solid density warm dense plasma state. Using spherically shaped laser targets, a focused proton beam is produced and used to heat a smaller volume to over 20 eV. The technique described of ultrafast proton heating provides a unique method for creating isochorically heated high-energy density plasma states.