Models of laser-plasma ablation

Abstract

Dimensional analysis is used to predict the functional relationships amongst the characteristic variables of the ablation of a cold dense fluid by an imposed external heat source. From these relations, self-similar limiting forms are identified and evaluated. Numerical simulation is used to investigate the interpolation between these limits. Self-similar forms generalizing well-known existing solutions of relevance to laser-plasma are demonstrated and include a general proof of Nemchinov's hypothesis for the heating of small targets of limited mass.