Inertial effects in laser-driven ablation

The gasdynamic partial differential equations (PDE's) governing the motion of an ablatively accelerated target contain an inertial force term that arises mathematically from acceleration of the reference frame in which the PDE's are written, and more physically from the requirement that part of the ablated mass (the deflagration wave zone) needs to be accelerated along with the unablated mass (payload). This effect is described, and its magnitude and parametric dependences by means of approximate analytical formulas inferred from the computer hydrocode calculation is estimated. The inertial term problems in laser fusion and laser equation of state studies found to reduce the attainable hydrodynamic efficiency of acceleration and implosion by up to 25% for typical conditions.