Laser shocking a shock wave for nonlinear summation of GPa pressures.

Lem, Jet; Kai, Yun; Vassaux, Maxime; Kooi, Steven E; Nelson, Keith A; Pezeril, Thomas · Phys Rev E · 2026

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We present a tabletop method to investigate how tailored laser excitation can enhance shock wave generation in water. By delivering two spatiotemporally separated laser pulses focused into a confined liquid layer, we identify an optimized excitation condition that maximizes the resulting shock pressure. Remarkably, dual-pulse laser excitation leads to an overall shock pressure that far exceeds the sum of the shock pressures generated by the individual pulses. This nonlinear amplification reveals a previously unexploited laser-matter interaction regime that overcomes saturation limits in laser-driven shock generation.