The role of thermal conduction on the size scaling of laser direct-drive implosions
Abstract
Ablation pressure is a key parameter controlling laser drive performance in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions. In this work, we develop a theoretical framework to clarify the role of thermal conduction in determining how ablation pressure scales with laser intensity, wavelength, and target size. We focus on a steady-state, spherically expanding plasma produced when an over-dense pellet is irradiated by a high-intensity laser. Scaling laws for ablation pressure and the mass ablation rate are derived with respect to laser intensity, wavelength, and target size. The theoretical predictions are found to be in good agreement with one-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations in spherical geometry.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
Space Satellite Systems and Control
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physics of Plasmas
- Publisher
- AIP Publishing
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 6
- Publication date
- 1 June 2026
- Language
- EN