Radiating plasma structures in ablating, laser-produced plasmas

Radiation driven, shock-like plasma structures (RPS) are observed in simulations of low Z, laser-produced, ablating plasmas. The locations of the structures correlate with density-temperature peaks in the integrated emission coefficient as computed from the STA opacity database that is used in the simulations. Many aspects of the RPS closely resemble those of radiative condensates such as enhanced densities and reduced temperatures. Experiments to detect RPS should validate both the hydrodynamics and the opacity modeling in regions of relevance to inertial confinement fusion pellet design.