Use of Laser-Generated Ion Beams for Isochoric Heating to Study Plasma-Phase Mix at Heterogeneous Interfaces

The evolution and mixing of high-Z/low-Z plasma interfaces in high energy density plasmas is a problem of profound importance to understanding plasma-phase mix in settings of thermonuclear burn. Recent experiments at the LANL Trident laser facility have used laser-generated aluminum ion beams created under conditions of relativistic induced transparency to heat solid-density, multi-material targets isochorically to temperatures of several eV and observations have been made of the subsequent evolution of the plasma media. Experiments such as these present a new path for the controlled preparation and study of high energy density physics and warm dense matter. This presentation will discuss recent results from these experiments, including supporting radiation-hydrodynamics and kinetic simulations and theory.