Nonlinear Dynamics of Laser Interaction with High Z Plasma

The formation and evolution of a plasma in the interaction of laser radiation with gold targets are studied by computer simulations using MHD code (ESC-CASTOR). The nonlinear features of the interaction including the absorption of laser radiation, heating of the plasma components, and the deformation of the density profile under the action of the ponderomotive 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 numerically obtained two-dimensional dynamical structures of the hydrodynamic parameter (electron density n_e, ion density n_i, electron temperature T_e, ion temperature T_i), radiation temperature T_r, ponderomotive force profile, and the space-time dependencies of the absorption efficiency and the ionization rates. The radiation spectrum is analyzed and the regularities in the motion of the critical density surface are clarified.