Shock pressure generated in aluminum targets due to the interaction
of 0.44 μm (3 ω of iodine laser) laser radiation has been
studied. The laser intensity profile was smoothed using phase zone
plates. Aluminum step targets were irradiated at an intensity
I ≈ 1014 W/cm2. Shock velocity in
the aluminum target was estimated by detecting the shock luminosity
from the target rear using a streak camera to infer the shock pressure.
Experimental results show a good agreement with the theoretical model
based on the delocalized laser absorption approximation. In the present
report, we explicitly discuss the importance of target thickness on the
shock pressure scaling.
