Work

Laser shocking a shock wave for nonlinear summation of GPa pressures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We present a tabletop method to investigate how tailored laser excitation can enhance shock wave generation in water. By delivering two spatiotemporally separated laser pulses focused into a confined liquid layer, we identify an optimized excitation condition that maximizes the resulting shock pressure. Remarkably, dual-pulse laser excitation leads to an overall shock pressure that far exceeds the sum of the shock pressures generated by the individual pulses. This nonlinear amplification reveals a previously unexploited laser-matter interaction regime that overcomes saturation limits in laser-driven shock generation.

Source: Physical review. E

DOI: 10.1103/r5wy-znw4

Authors: Jet Lem, Yun Kai, Maxime Vassaux, Steven E. Kooi, Keith A. Nelson, Thomas Pezeril

Institutions: Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institut de Physique de Rennes

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Army Research Office

Awards: G363884141, G805375031