Quasi-static heating of stack targets with intense ion beams for equation of state measurements

A novel target configuration for equation of state measurements using intense ion beams is proposed. It is based on a stack consisting of several thin foils which expand quasi-statically when heated with the ion beam. The merging of the single foils causes a sharp increase of the expansion velocity. Together with the known energy deposition of the ion beam this allows direct determination of equation of state data. The parameters of the stack target were optimized with hydrodynamic calculations. Finally, a simple analytical model to predict the expansion velocity was developed.