Laminar shocks in high power laser plasma interactions

Abstract

We propose a theory to describe laminar ion sound structures in a collisionless plasma. Reflection of a small fraction of the upstream ions converts the well known ion acoustic soliton into a structure with a steep potential gradient upstream and with downstream oscillations. The theory provides a simple interpretation of results dating back more than forty years but, more importantly, is shown to provide an explanation for recent observations on laser produced plasmas relevant to inertial fusion and to ion acceleration.

7 pages, 6 figures

Cited by in corpus (4)

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• Collisionless shock acceleration in the corona of an inertial confinement fusion pellet with possible application to ion fast ignition