Equation of state data experiments for plastic foams using smoothed laser beams

Abstract

The importance of foams in laser produced plasmas has been recently pointed out in both Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) and astrophysics laboratory dedicated experiments. In this paper, Equation of State (EOS) data measurements of plastic porous materials have been experimentally determined using ns laser pulses smoothed with Phase Zone Plates (PZP). Foams of density in the range 20–400 mg/cm3 and thickness about 20 μm were used. A new original scheme for the targets has been designed which allowed, for the first time with laser, EOS data to be obtained for pressures ranging from 0.1 to 2.5 Mbars. Results are discussed and compared with available models.