Thermal transport, mass-ablation and preheat in laser-target experiments

Thermal transport in laser-target irradiation experiments has been studied by X-ray spectroscopic methods. Mass ablation rates and ablation pressures can be derived from these and other measurements. Even though the measurements from various laboratories do not always agree, a general picture seems to emerge: (1) thermal transport is less inhibited in spherical irradiation geometry, as compared with single beam irradiation of flat targets; (2) thermal transport tends towards a classical behavior, i.e., with no need to invoke flux inhibition, for short wavelength irradiation of large spherical targets, and (3) mass ablation rates are higher at shorter wavelength irradiation, even when compared at the same absorbed irradiance.