Simulating the heating of z-pinch plasmas with short laser pulses

The longitudinal heating of a z-pinch plasma with short laser pulses is simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics. The heating of an existing pinch plasma for different electron densities with a short laser pulse is shown. It is illustrated that the initial electron density of the plasma has a significant impact on penetration of the pulse and subsequent heating of the plasma. With a Nd:YAG laser pulse the most effective heating occurs when the initial electron density is about 1/15 of the critical electron density of the plasma. It is shown that by increasing the initial electron density by even a factor of two above this level causes the absorption to increase dramatically, preventing penetration of the laser pulse and greatly limiting the heating of the plasma.