Numerical simulation of exploding pusher targets
Exploding pusher targets, i.e. gas-filled large aspect-ratio glass or plastic shells, driven by a strong laser- generated shock, are widely used as pulsed sources of neutrons and fast charged particles. Recent experiments on exploding pushers provided evidence for the transition from a purely fluid behavior to a kinetic one [1]. Indeed, fluid models largely overpredict yield and temperature as the Knudsen number Kn (ratio of ion mean-free path to compressed gas radius) is comparable or larger than one.