Multiple species laser-driven ion-shock acceleration*

Using 2-D OSIRIS particle-in-cell simulations, laser-driven ion-shock acceleration of a multi-species plasma is explored. We perform simulations consisting of over-dense plasmas of electrons, protons, and various ion species at several densities, to obtain a generalized picture of shock propagation in a system consisting of multiple particle species. These results are relevant to high-intensity laser-driven shocks using gas jets with multiple ion species such as methane, or exploded plastic targets.