Importance of two-dimensional effects for the generation of ultra high pressures obtained in laser colliding foil experiments

A 12 μm polyester foil is accelerated by a 0.26 μm wavelength laser and collides with a 15 μm thick molybdenum foil. The accelerating pressure is 45 Mbar (laser intensity≊3– 4×1014 W/cm2) and gives to the polyester foil a velocity of about 160 km/sec. The measurement of the shock pressure induced in the impacted foil is made with an improved step technique. When the initial spacing between the two foils is too large compared to the focal spot radius, i.e., larger than 20–30 μm, the different experimental results cannot be reproduced with one-dimensional simulations; this is only possible by using a two-dimensional Lagrangian code that has been developed and that takes into account the strong deformation of the accelerated foil. Finally, even with the low level of x-ray heating due to the ablation plasma, multihundred megabar pressures can be obtained within a very short time.