Hydrodynamic beam-target interaction experiments on the Karlsruhe light ion facility kalif

We have investigated the beam-target interaction by studying the hydrodynamic response of 10- to 100-µm-thick targets. Laser-Doppler-velocimetry is used to measure the mass flow velocity at the rear target surface. Applying the hydrodynamic relations used in shock wave physics and the Hugoniot EOS of the target material power density, ablation pressure, and the proton range can be determined as a function of time. We have extended the velocimeter to provide 1-dim-spatial resolution along a measuring line of several millimeters length. For the first time, the ablative acceleration and the ablation pressure history could be measured as a function of the distance to the ion diode axis. From the radially resolved hydrodynamic target response we expect complementary information on beam properties and the beam-target interaction process.