Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 March 2009
Calculations of the preheat of the cold region of an aluminum target by X-rays from the coronal region are presented. The computation was carried out by means of our 1-D hydrodynamics code, PLASMOR, which takes into consideration non-LTE steady state atomic physics. The radiation from the plasma is divided into 40 energy groups: 20 continuous groups (recombination + bremsstrahlung) from hv = 300 eV up to hv = 100 keV, and 20 lines, mainly (but not only) He-like and H-like lines. The hot coronal region is assumed to be optically thin to all radiation. The photoabsorption in the cold portion proceeds through the photo-ionization effect, and variations with density and temperature are taken into account by means of a simplified model. Black body radiative transport in the cold portion is also included. The effects of the radiation on the shock wave propagation as well as its influence on the density and temperature distribution in the shock compressed region were studied for trapezoidal and Gaussian laser pulse shapes.