Effect of target atomic number on laser induced ablation pressure scaling

Laser induced ablation pressure as a function of absorbed laser intensity for low and moderate atomic number targets has been experimentally determined using a 1·06-μm laser at an irradiance of 5 × 1011 to 1 × 1013 W cm−2. Ablation pressure variations with the absorbed laser intensity indicate a transition from a self-regulating ablation to a deflagration scaling for low atomic targets. The experimental results have also been corroborated with theoretical models and a two dimensional hydrodynamic code.