Multi-Parameter Characterization of Laser Ablation Plasmas

The laser ablation of solid targets results in the formation of complex plasma plumes. The theoretical description of these plumes is challenging and requires multi-physics simulations bounded by accurate data on all aspects of ablation phenomena. To meet this challenge, a new experimental platform has been developed to characterize the spatial and temporal evolution of laser ablation plumes. This system records a variety of diagnostics that can be synchronized to a common master-clock. The common clock allows each ablation plume to be described in event-mode, where a careful examination of energy and momentum partitioning can be made for each ablation plume. The experimental system has been designed to survey a wide variety of target materials and geometries using laser intensities ranging from 10\textsuperscript{6} to 10\textsuperscript{19} W/cm\textsuperscript{2}. Physical parameters of the plumes are being measured with a powerful array of spectroscopic instruments, optical laser probes, charged particle analyzers, and nuclear instruments. A careful and accurate characterization of laser ablation plumes containing neutral and ionized atomic and molecular species provides measurements useful in high energy density physics, astrophysics, and technological fields.