Selected laser plasma simulations by ALE method

Abstract

A novel 2D ALE code in Cartesian and cylindrical geometries on logically rectangular quadrilateral meshes was developed for laser plasma applications. We present here simulations of laser interactions with three different types (disc flyer, double foil and foam) of targets used in experiments at the PALS laser. The application of the ALE method proved to be essential as the pure Lagrangian method for these problems fails due to mesh degeneration.