Experimental and theoretical investigations of crater formation in an aluminium target in a PALS experiment

Experimental and theoretical results of investigations of the iodine laser - Al solid target interactions on the PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System) facility are presented. The experimental investigations of laser interaction with massive Al targets devoted to shock wave propagation in solids and crater formation physics are presented. Experiments were performed with the use of high intensity laser pulses (1013 15 W/cm2) for two laser wavelengths (0.438 mi m and 1.315 mi m) and four laser beam radii (from 35 mi m up to 600 ěm). The crater dimensions were measured using optical microscopy and a wax-replica technique. Plasma expansion out of the target was measured via three-frame interferometry. Theoretical model of the postpulse crater formation by the shock wave propagating and decaying in solids after the end of the laser pulse is presented and applied for the explanation of the results obtained in experiments.