Equation of State Measurements of Dense Plasmas Heated by Laser Accelerated MeV Protons

ORAL

Abstract

Using a fast proton beam generated with an ultra intense laser we have generated and measured the equation of state of solid density plasma at temperatures near 20 eV, a regime in which there have been few previous experimental measurements. The laser accelerated a directional, short pulse of MeV protons, which isochorically heated a solid slab of aluminum. Using two simultaneous, temporally resolved measurements we observed the thermal emission and expansion of the heated foil with picosecond time resolution. With these data we were able to confirm, to within 10{\%}, the SESAME equation-of-state table in this dense plasma region.

Authors

  • Gilliss Dyer

    • The University of Texas at Austin

  • Aaron Bernstein

    • The University of Texas at Austin

  • Byoung-Ick Cho

    • The University of Texas at Austin

  • Will Grigsby

    • The University of Texas at Austin

  • Allen Dalton

    • The University of Texas at Austin

  • Ronnie Shepherd

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Yuan Ping

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Hui Chen

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Klaus Widmann

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Jens Ozterhoz

    • Heinrich-Heine-University

  • T. Ditmire

    • The Texas Center for High Intensity Laser Science, Department of Physics, University of Texas, Austin
    • University of Texas
    • The University of Texas at Austin
    • University of Texas at Austin
    • University of Texas, Austin