Laser Induced Shock Pressure Multiplication in Multi Layer Thin Foil Targets

The impedance mismatch technique has been used for shock pressure amplification in two and three layer thin planar foil targets. Numerical simulation results using one dimensional radiation hydrocode MULTI in two layer targets consisting of Al-Au & Al-Cu and three layer target consisting of Plastic Al -Au & Foam-Al-Au respectively are presented. These results show a pressure enhancement up to 25 & 29Mbar Plastic-Al-Au and FoamAl-Au target respectively from initial pressure of 7Mbar in the reference material using laser intensity of 5x10 W/cm at 1.064μm. This enhancement is more as compared to 18 & 22Mbar found in Plastic-Au and Foam-Au two-layer targets respectively . Results of laser driven shock wave experiments for equation of state (EOS) studies of Au and Cu in two-layer target are also presented. A Nd:YAG laser chain (2 Joule, 1.06 μm wavelength, 200 ps pulse FWHM) is used for generating shocks in the planar Al foils and Al-Au (or Al-Cu) layered targets. EOS of Au and Cu in the pressure range of 9-14 Mbar obtained shows remarkable agreement with the simulation results and with experimental data of other laboratories and SESAME data.