Simulations of thermal wave propagation in a target irradiated by high-intensity p-polarised laser radiation

In a one-dimensional hydrodynamic approximation the evolution of a hot dense plasma produced by a high-power subpicosecond laser pulse absorbed primarily due to the resonance mechanism is investigated numerically. The heated plasma parameters of light and heavy chemical elements are compared. A prediction is made concerning the feasibility of producing a thin uniform plasma layer of a heavy substance in experiments on the irradiation of compound targets.