title: Isochoric heating of solid-density matter with an ultrafast proton beam.
abstract: A new technique is described for the isochoric heating (i.e., heating at constant volume) of matter to high energy-density plasma states (>10(5) J/g) on a picosecond time scale (10(-12)sec). An intense, collimated, ultrashort-pulse beam of protons--generated by a high-intensity laser pulse--is used to isochorically heat a solid density material to a temperature of several eV. The duration of heating is shorter than the time scale for significant hydrodynamic expansion to occur; hence the material is heated to a solid density warm dense plasma state. Using spherically shaped laser targets, a focused proton beam is produced and used to heat a smaller volume to over 20 eV. The technique described of ultrafast proton heating provides a unique method for creating isochorically heated high-energy density plasma states.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Key
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Foord
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruhl
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephens