Plasma evolution in laser-irradiated hollow microcylinders

Abstract
Hollow microcylinder targets, 200–300 μm in diameter, have been internally irradiated at up to 5 · 1014 W/cm2 with Nd:glass laser pulses directed through an axial entrance slit. The plasma evolution in the interior of the cavities was diagnosed with a pinhole imaging X-ray streak camera and a Nomarski-type interferometer. Plasma collision near the center of the cylinder is observed about 300 ps after the irradiating laser pulse. The experimental results are confirmed by a one-dimensional Eulerian fluid code.