The propagation of a radiation heat wave through a thin foil of solid gold was investigated experimentally. The wave is driven by the intense thermal radiation in 1–3-mm-diam gold cavities heated by an intense laser pulse (duration 0.8–0.9 ns, wavelength 0.35 μm) to temperatures ranging from 80 to 240 eV. Evidence of the propagating wave was obtained from the delayed onset of thermal emission from the outer side of the foil. A detailed comparison of the results with the self-similar solution for the ablative heat wave and with numerical simulations is presented.

• Received 24 July 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.45.3987