title: Gigabar spherical shock generation on the OMEGA laser.
abstract: This Letter presents the first experimental demonstration of the capability to launch shocks of several-hundred Mbar in spherical targets--a milestone for shock ignition [R. Betti et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 155001 (2007)]. Using the temporal delay between the launching of the strong shock at the outer surface of the spherical target and the time when the shock converges at the center, the shock-launching pressure can be inferred using radiation-hydrodynamic simulations. Peak ablation pressures exceeding 300 Mbar are inferred at absorbed laser intensities of ∼3×10(15)  W/cm2. The shock strength is shown to be significantly enhanced by the coupling of suprathermal electrons with a total converted energy of up to 8% of the incident laser energy. At the end of the laser pulse, the shock pressure is estimated to exceed ∼1  Gbar because of convergence effects.
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA and Fusion Science Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA and Department of Physics and Astronomy and/or Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Nora
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Theobald
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA and Fusion Science Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA and Department of Physics and Astronomy and/or Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Betti
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: F J
authors: FJ
authors: Marshall
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: D T
authors: DT
authors: Michel
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Seka
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Yaakobi
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lafon
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Stoeckl
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Delettrez
authors: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Solodov
authors: CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Casner
authors: CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Reverdin
authors: Université de Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications) UMR 5107 F-33400 Talence, France.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Ribeyre
authors: Université de Bordeaux-CNRS-CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications) UMR 5107 F-33400 Talence, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Vallet
authors: University of California, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Peebles
authors: Fusion Science Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA and University of California, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
authors: F N
authors: FN
authors: Beg
authors: Fusion Science Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA and General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Wei