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King_Thesis_21November2015.pdf (25.8 MB)

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Simulations of High-Intensity Short-Pulse Lasers Incident on Reduced Mass Targets

King, Frank Walker
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0127-8373
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448445064

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Physics.
This thesis presents the results of a series of fully kinetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of reduced mass targets with pre-plasma subjected to high-intensity short-pulse lasers. The simulations are performed in one, two, and three dimensions. The results of these simulations show that the creation of an electrostatic collisionless ion shock in the pre-plasma controls the creation of an above solid density ion perturbation in the target bulk, and this determines the reduced mass target heating and deformation. The ion perturbation is initiated by a population of high-energy electrons that rapidly spread throughout the target and reflux. The perturbation spreads longitudinally and transversely through the target and results in compression followed by the destruction of the target. This deformation requires a kinetic treatment due to the generation of non-equilibrium particle distributions and the role of ballistic electrons and ions. Kinetic and fluid simulations are compared and both exhibit the basic features of the above solid density ion perturbation, but the magnitude of the effect and the speed of propagation vary significantly between the two methods. Kinetic simulations do not naturally include equation-of-state physics and other aspects of the problem. Both approaches are complementary. The requirements on spatial resolution, particle count, and other numerical parameters are addressed in this work. From these simulations, the behavior of the reduced mass targets is found to vary significantly depending on the laser focal spot size or the intensity of the laser pulse. This occurs even if the energy and power of the laser pulses are held constant. The number of dimensions used in the particle-in-cell simulations has been observed to have a significant effect on late-time heating of the target, but not during or shortly after laser excitation. This is due to the representation of the equilibration process as the initial population of laser heated electrons transfers energy to the rest of the target. Analysis of the operation of 2D3V particle-in-cell models relative to three-dimensional models produces a geometric factor that accounts for much of the difference. This geometrical framework along with the kinetic results provide a set of guidelines for performing simulations designed to capture heating and deformation physics in reduced mass targets.
Douglass Schumacher (Advisor)
Louis DiMauro (Committee Member)
Ulrich Heinz (Committee Member)
Michael Lisa (Committee Member)
174 p.
Physics
Physics, Plasma Physics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • King, F. W. (2015). Simulations of High-Intensity Short-Pulse Lasers Incident on Reduced Mass Targets [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448445064

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • King, Frank. Simulations of High-Intensity Short-Pulse Lasers Incident on Reduced Mass Targets. 2015. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448445064.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • King, Frank. "Simulations of High-Intensity Short-Pulse Lasers Incident on Reduced Mass Targets." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1448445064

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1448445064
362
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.