Uniform multimegabar shock waves in solids driven by laser-generated thermal radiation

Abstract

Uniform shock waves were driven into solid gold and aluminum samples via ablation of material by intense thermal radiation. The radiation was generated by laser heating of 1--3 mm size gold cavities to radiation temperatures of up to 150 eV. Shock wave velocity and uniformity were measured using flat, single-step, double-step, and wedge samples. Pressures of up to 20 Mbar were achieved.