NUKLEONIKA 2004, 49(1):7-14

EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF CRATER FORMATION IN AN ALUMINIUM TARGET IN A PALS EXPERIMENT

S. Borodziuk1, I. Ya. Doskach2, S. Gus’kov2, K. Jungwirth3, M. Kálal4, A. Kasperczuk1 B. Kralikova3, E. Krousky3, J. Limpouch4, K. Masek3, M. Pfeifer3, P. Pisarczyk5, T. Pisarczyk1, K. Rohlena3, V. Rozanov2, J. Skala3, J. Ullschmied6

1 Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, 23 Hery Str., 00-908 Warsaw, Poland,
2 P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of RAS, 53 Leninski Ave., 119991 Moscow, Russia,
3 Institute of Physics of the AS CR, 2 Na Slovance Str., 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic,
4 Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, 7 Brehova Str., 115 19 Prague 1, Czech Republic,
5 Institute of Computer Science, Warsaw University of Technology, 15/19 Nowowiejska Str., 00-665 Warsaw, Poland,
6 Institute of Plasma Physics of the AS CR, 3 Za Slovankou Str., 182 21 Prague 8, Czech Republic

Experimental and theoretical results of investigations of the iodine laser – Al solid target interactions on the PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System) facility are presented. The experimental investigations of laser interaction with massive Al targets devoted to shock wave propagation in solids and crater formation physics are presented. Experiments were performed with the use of high intensity laser pulses (1013-15 W/cm2) for two laser wavelengths (0.438 mm and 1.315 mm) and four laser beam radii (from 35 mm up to 600 mm). The crater dimensions were measured using optical microscopy and a wax-replica technique. Plasma expansion out of the target was measured via three-frame interferometry. Theoretical model of the post-pulse crater formation by the shock wave propagating and decaying in solids after the end of the laser pulse is presented and applied for the explanation of the results obtained in experiments.