Experiments to investigate the effects of radiative cooling on plasma jet collimation

TL;DR

This study experimentally examines how radiative cooling influences plasma jet collimation by using laser-irradiated thin shells of different materials, revealing material-dependent effects on jet width and collimation.

Contribution

It provides new experimental insights into the role of radiative cooling in plasma jet collimation using different target materials and optical diagnostics.

Findings

Gold jets are narrower than copper jets.

Aluminium targets produce the least collimated flows.

Radiative cooling effects vary with target material.

Abstract

Preliminary experiments have been performed to investigate the effects of radiative cooling on plasma jets. Thin (3 um - 5 um) conical shells were irradiated with an intense laser, driving jets with velocities > 100 km/s. Through use of different target materials - aluminium, copper and gold - the degree of radiative losses was altered, and their importance for jet collimation investigated. A number of temporally resoved optical diagnostics was used, providing information about the jet evolution. Gold jets were seen to be narrower than those from copper targets, while aluminium targets produced the least collimated flows.