On the Reynolds Number in Laser Experiments

To characterize the hydrodynamic flows in laser accelerated targets, we define two Reynolds numbers. Transport coefficients are computed within the frameworks of the One Component Plasma model for strongly correlated plasmas, and of the Braginskii formula for plasmas dominated by small angle scattering. Configurations with laser energies ranging from 100 J to 2 MJ are investigated. It appears that flows are generally in non-linear regimes except for a target imploded with a 2 MJ laser where turbulence probably occurs. Natural diffusion effects appear to be small.