Two-dimensional (2D) FLASH simulations were run with Spitzer-Härm
conductivity on and off in an attempt to simulate a laser-produced blast
wave. Dissociation, ionization, recombination, and radiative cooling were
not included. An initial Gaussian temperature profile with
T0 = 120 eV and spot radius r0 =
25 μm was used assuming 1 μm thickness of the CH disk is ablated
into the background nitrogen gas. Evolution of the blast wave differs
slightly between the cases of Spitzer-Härm on and off, and neither
case matches well with experiment. Due to the high temperatures involved,
a thermal wave should be expected such that the Spitzer-Härm
conductivity on case is more likely. A simulation run with an initial
temperature of ∼ 4 keV might match better with experiment.