Hydrodynamic Implosion Simulation Including Relativistic Effects on Petawatt-Class Pulse Heating

Abstract

A spherically symmetric fluid code that includes the relativistic effects of hot electrons has been newly developed. In the present simulations, I attempt to implode a target shell of laser fusion using a nanosecond pulse; then, an additional heating short pulse is injected into the coronal plasma surrounding a highly compressed core. I found that the relativistic effects of hot electrons on electron transport are likely to inhibit the heat flows, and to reduce thermonuclear fusion neutrons significantly. This feature may be important for off-center fast ignition and burn of fusion targets.