Characterization of near-LTE, high-temperature and high-density aluminum plasmas produced by ultra-high intensity lasers

Ultra-high-intensity lasers have opened up a new avenue for the creation and detailed spectral measurements of dense plasmas in extreme thermodynamic conditions. In this paper, we demonstrate the possibility of heating a dense plasma (ρ > 1 gcm−3) to a maximum temperature of 560 ± 40 eV using a few-Joule, relativistic-intensity laser pulse. Particle-in-cell, radiation-hydrodynamic and atomic physics simulation tools are used together for a full description of the plasma dynamics, from laser interaction to late-time expansion and x-ray emission, yielding overall good agreement with the spectral measurements. We discuss the sensitivity of our analysis to space-time gradients, non-equilibrium ionization processes and hot electron effects.