Sound Generation by Pulsed Ion Beams of 10⁸ to 10⁹ W/cin² in Metallic Targets

Results of experimental studies on sound compressive waves generated by pulsed proton-carbon beams with current densities ranging from 100 A/cm² to 1.6kA/cm² in thick metallic targets are presented. Data on the duration of compressive stress at the front of the sound beam-generated compressive wave in a metal are obtained. The factors changing the efficiency of sound generation in metal due to the gas-kinetic recoil pulse of the gas-plasma cloud extending away from the irradiated surface are discussed.