The problem of how to include fast burning along the vortex axis into the general description of turbulent flames is discussed. It is shown that, from such a point of view, the most representative geometry of the flow is burning in a hypothetic 'tube' with rotating gaseous mixture. Direct numerical simulations of flame propagation in the hypothetic tube are performed on the basis of the complete system of hydrodynamic equations, including thermal conduction, diffusion, viscosity and chemical kinetics written in the rotational reference frame. The geometry of an axisymmetric flame front is studied, which allows reducing the dimension of the problem by one, thus saving computational time. The numerical results are analysed using the ideas of bubble rising in the acceleration field created by the centrifugal force. It is shown that the velocity of flame propagation is determined mostly by the velocity of bubble rising when the frequency of the tube rotation is sufficiently large. When the rotational frequency is moderate, then the velocity of flame propagation is determined by the planar flame velocity, by the hydrodynamic flame instability and by the gas rotation. Calculations given in the present paper are in agreement with the previous theoretical and experimental results.

Short pulse laser ablation of semiconductors and metals is studied by means of ultrafast time-resolved microscopy. The characteristic stages of the conversion of solid material into hot fluid matter undergoing ablation are identified, initially metallic material transforms during the expansion into a transparent state with a high index of refraction.

The potential of high‐power lasers for detailed studies of strongly coupled plasmas at low entropy is discussed, emphasizing multiple‐shock techniques. Some outstanding features like metallization in solids and related ionization phase transitions in the fluid phase—predicted theoretically, but not yet observed experimentally—are reviewed. Planar multiple shock compression of solid hydrogen is described, using reverberating shocks between massive liners and, alternatively, a stepped pressure pulse acting from one side. In the latter case, shock splitting and a rarefaction shock show up at the metallic phase transition.

Ignition and burn of DT targets is studied taking into account kinetic effects. Kinetic equations describing the interaction of the high‐energy reaction products with target plasma are solved using the particle‐in‐cell (PIC) code for collisional plasma. Volume and spark ignition configurations are simulated for initial temperatures and 〈ρR〉 values of practical interest and target masses between 0.1 and 10 mg. Optically thick configurations igniting at temperatures below 5 keV are considered. Burn of the targets with reduced tritium content is simulated. It was shown that, for 25% tritium concentration, the energy output is reduced only by 15%.

We propose an experiment for metallic hydrogen production by a kilojoule laser pulse.