Particle-in-cell Simulations of laser-produced plasma experiments to study thrust conversion processes in a laser fusion rocket

Here we present the comparison analysis of Laser-produced Plasma Cloud (LPC) expansion in a dipole field between experimental data and simulation results obtained by a three-dimensional (3D) hybrid code. The thrust conversion process in a laser fusion rocket (LFR) and the plasma behaviour are examined. We found a real thrust efficiency as high as 60% can be achieved in a future LFR. It was also found that the experiments with a "usual" LPC will be very useful to develop LFR design and test the basic features of large-scale simulative LFR experiment proposed for National Ignition Facility (NIF).