Application of high-power lasers to study matter at ultrahigh pressures
S.I. Anisimov a,
A.M. Prokhorov b,
V.E. Fortov c
a L.D. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Moscow Region, Russian Federation
b Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 38, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation
c Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Izhorskaya 13/19, Moscow, 127412, Russian Federation
This article reviews the current status of studies by means of lasers of superdense nonideal plasmas. The main attention is paid to laser methods of generating plane steady-state shock waves with extremely high pressures. The role is discussed of various factors that complicate the design of laser experiments: generation of high-energy non-Maxwell electrons, plasma and hydrodynamic instabilities, restrictions on heat flux, etc. The advantages are pointed out of using highfrequency lasers and layered targets to obtain a plasma with extremal parameters.
|