THE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND THERMAL PRESSURES IN LASER-IRRADIATED PLASMAS

Shock generation by the ablation of laser-heated plasma into vacuum an d the boring of ultra-intense laser into plasma is studied using rocke t model and pistol model, respectively. It shows that the hydrodynamic behavior of laser-irradiated plasma depends on the competition betwee n the light and thermal pressures, and in both processes a density jum p at the critical surface as well as an inward propagating shock will be induced. The fluid parameters characterizing the processes are deri ved and expressed as functions of the ratio of light and thermal press ure.