NONLINEAR DYNAMICS OF LASER INTERACTION WITH HIGH-Z PLASMA

The formation and evolution of a plasma in the interaction of laser ra diation with gold targets are studied by computer simulations using MH D code (ESC-CASTOR). The nonlinear features of the interaction includi ng the absorption of laser radiation, heating of the plasma components , and the deformation of the density profile under the action of the p onderomotive force are discussed. The role of these nonlinear effects together and the influence of the radiative and collisional transport in the evolution of the density profile are discussed based on the num erically obtained two-dimensional dynamical structures of the hydrodyn amic parameter (electron density n(e), ion density n(i), electron temp erature T-e, ion temperature T-i), radiation temperature T-r, ponderom otive force profile, and the space-time dependencies of the absorption efficiency and the ionization rates. The radiation spectrum is analyz ed and the regularities in the motion of the critical density surface are clarified.