Additive manufactured foam targets for experiments on high-power laser-matter interaction

Additive manufactured (AM) foams in the context of high-power laser-matter interaction have emerged as a topic of significant interest. Printed foam targets provide a highly controlled environment for laser interaction and permit a high degree of versatility in terms of average density, spatial structure, and materials. These features are of great value to a variety of applications, including inertial confinement fusion and generation of intense x-rays and gamma rays. This paper describes an approach to the design and fabrication of AM foams for laser-plasma interaction experiments, including the selection of cellular structure, optimization of mechanical properties using a finite element approach, and foam printing on dielectric and conducting substrates.