A comprehensive simulation study is presented, examining the interaction of an EUV capillary discharge laser, operating at 46.9nm, within carbon at solid density. By incorporating a detailed model of photoionization, equation of state calculations, electronic term accounting and refractive index calculation into a pre-existing 2D radiative-hydrodynamic code POLLUX, target ablation and subsequent plasma expansion has been simulated for target material under intense (10¹¹ W cm^-2) EUV irradiation. Unique ablation based on direct photoionization by EUV photons creates solid density plasma with a temperature below 20eV. Plasma in this warm dense matter state is of particular interest to inertial con_nement fusion research. A reduction in focal spot size, due to a decrease in the di_raction limit, combined with increased target penetration allows for high-aspect ratio hole drilling and a signi_cant increase in the ejected target mass. This work outlines a comprehensive computational environment used to simulate the EUV/x-ray laser interaction within solid material and expanding plasma.

Date Published: 30 September 2013
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 8849, X-Ray Lasers and Coherent X-Ray Sources: Development and Applications X, 884912 (30 September 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2023232

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8849:
X-Ray Lasers and Coherent X-Ray Sources: Development and Applications X
Annie Klisnick; Carmen S. Menoni, Editor(s)