Measurements and laser-wavelength dependence of mass-ablation rate and ablation pressure in planar layered targets

Abstract

Layered-targets experiments at 1.06-μm laser light have been performed in order to measure mass-ablation rate ṁ and ablation pressure Pa as a function of absorbed laser flux Ia and laser wavelength λL at irradiances of 1011-4.5 × 1012 W/cm2. The results can be put in the forms ṁ(g/cm2-s) ≈ 4.25 × 105[Ia(W/cm2)/1014]5/9(1 μm/λL)4/9 and Pa(Mbar) ≈ 20[Ia(W/cm2)/1014]7/9(1 μm/λL)2/9, which are consistent with the estimates obtained from a steady-state self-regulated model for plasma heating and with hydrodynamical simulations. Results show also a small lateral energy transport.