Physical Processes of the Interaction Between Laser‐Generated Plasma and Blast Wave Appearing in Laser‐Driven In‐Tube Accelerator Configuration

Flow visualizations of the interaction between a laser‐pulse‐generated plasma and a shock wave driven by it have been experimentally conducted. The configuration of the experimental set‐up corresponds to the laser‐driven, in‐tube accelerator. Primary‐mode deformation of the plasma is governed by Richtmyer‐Meshkov instability which is produced by the vector product between the pressure and density gradients, which in turn correspond to a reflected shock wave and to the plasma, respectively. Higher‐mode contact surface deformations are supposedly originated in Rayleigh‐Taylor instability in the shrinkage phase of the plasma, and is enhanced due to the passage of the reflected shock wave.