Measurements and simulations of shock wave generated plasma-vacuum interface

Abstract

A controlled gradient gas jet was designed, constructed, and tested at the Naval Research Laboratory for the generation of high density and sharp gradient plasma regions. The gas jet uses a laser-generated shock wave to control the density gradient at the vacuum and neutral gas interface. The length scale of the laser produced plasma density gradient is fully controlled by the strength of the shock wave and can be varied continuously from100 m for a weak shock to under 20 m in case of strong shock wave as verified by the experimental results and simulations. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.