Planar laser-driven ablation: Effect of inhibited electron thermal conduction

A model for planar laser‐driven ablation is presented, including the effects of inhibited electron thermal conduction. Localized deposition of laser energy at the critical‐density surface is assumed. A steady‐state solution in the conduction zone is joined to a rarefaction wave in the underdense corona. The global flow structure is calculated, as well as the ablation pressure, ablation rate, and hydrodynamic efficiency. Criteria are developed for the importance of the inertial force caused by the acceleration of the slab. The results agree well with time‐dependent computer simulations using a Lagrangian hydrodynamics code.

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