Nanostructured targets irradiation by ns-laser for nuclear astrophysics applications: First results

The studies discussed in this work are related to a scientific program that aims to reproduce astrophysical-plasmas in laboratory in order to better understand the nuclear processes involved in the stellar burning. An experimental campaign aiming to investigate the effects of innovative nanostructured targets based on Ni, Fe and Co nanowires on laser energy absorption in the ns time domain has been carried out at the LENS (Laser Energy for Nuclear Science) laboratory of INFN-LNS, Catania. Nanowires structures are tuned to increase the light absorption in the visible and infrared range due possibly to plasmonic excitation driven by the incoming photons. Different diagnostics techniques permit to monitor the plasma and to determine its reproducibility. Targets were then irradiated by Nd:YAG 2J, 6 ns infrared laser (λ = 1064 nm) at different pumping energies. Some preliminary results will be illustrated.