Physics of Short Laser Pulse Heated Solid Targets Revealed by Code Comparisons

Physical properties of hot dense plasmas, such as opacity and equation-of-state, are increasingly being studied with solid targets heated by short-pulse lasers. In the conventional scenario, an intense laser pulse produces hot electrons, which then heat the bulk of the target. However, there remain many unanswered questions about the physics of the energy coupling and transport in such targets. To answer these questions, we have embarked on a project to compare simulation results produced by several independent computer codes. We describe the role of pre-plasma scale length in determining the hot electron spectra and the importance of various coupling mechanisms between hot electrons and the bulk plasma. We discuss plans to identify optimal simulation methods to better utilize short pulse heated targets for studying hot dense matter.