Ablative Acceleration of Laser-Irradiated Thin-Foil Targets

Ablative acceleration of thin-foil targets at low laser irradiance (${10}^{12}$-${10}^{13}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$) is studied experimentally and theoretically. Ablative acceleration of foils up to ∼${10}^7$ cm/sec with good hydrodynamic efficiency (20%) has been achieved. These and other results are in good agreement with a simple rocket model.