Introduction to the Laser-HANE experiment and summary of low-pressure interaction results

A brief overview of the NRL laser-target experiment which simulates the interactions involved in a HANE is presented. A burst of fast laser-produced-debris-ions stream into a low-density magnetized ambient plasma/gas. The interactions between these two plasma components are investigated under a variety of conditions. At ambient pressures below 150 mTorr we observed a magnetic bubble formation during the debris expansion; we found that the field is swept out of the volume traversed by the debris plasma and is compressed ahead of the debris front. Evidence is found for magnetic-field dependent interactions between the debris ions and ambient plasma.