Experimental and simulative study on laser irradiation of 3D-printed micro-structures at intensities relevant for inertial confinement fusion

Abstract

Inertial confinement fusion requires a constant search for the most effective materials for improving the efficiency of the compression of the capsule and of the laser-to-target energy transfer. Foams could provide a solution to these problems, but they require further experimental and theoretical investigation. The new 3D-printing technologies, such as the two-photon polymerization, are opening a new era in the production of foams, allowing for the fine control of the material morphology. Detailed studies of their interaction with high-power lasers in regimes relevant for inertial confinement fusion are very few in the literature so far and more investigation is needed. In this work we present the results an experimental campaign performed at the ABC laser facility in ENEA Centro Ricerche Frascati where 3D-printed micro-structured materials were irradiated at high power. 3D simulations of the laser-target interaction performed with the FLASH code reveal a strong scattering when the center of the focal spot is on the through hole of the structure. The time required for the laser to completely ablate the structure obtained by the simulations is in good agreement with the experimental measurement. The measure of the reflected and transmitted laser light indicates that the scattering occurred during the irradiation, in accordance with the simulations. Two-plasmon decay has also been found to be active during irradiation.