Generation of high pressures by short-pulse low-energy laser irradiation

The goal of this paper is twofold: first, we demonstrate shock generation with ultra-short (24 fs) and low-energy (J) laser pulse, following the energy deposition in the target by fast electrons; second, we show that such shocks can be used to provide information on compressed matter. For a target with 50 mu m thickness we have clearly inferred the formation of a shock wave with pressure >= 100 Mbar. We have also measured the color temperature of the emitting target rear side at breakout time (T approximate to 0.6 eV), which is in good agreement with predictions from equation-of-state models (SESAME tables) and hydrodynamic simulations.