Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 October 1999
Laser prepulse effect on thermal smoothing of non-uniformities of target illumination is studied by means of 2D Lagrangian hydrodynamics simulation, based on parameters of real experiment. A substantial smoothing effect is demonstrated in case of an optimum delay between the prepulse and main heating laser pulse. The cause of enhancement of thermal smoothing effect by laser prepulse is the formation of long hot layer between the region of laser absorption and ablation surface. Comparison with experimental results is presented.