Physics of Laser Plasma: (v.3 Handbook of Plasma Physics S.)

Volume 3 of the Handbook of Plasma Physics continues the trend set by the first two in discussing many of the challenging problems in basic plasma physics. This volume provides a comprehensive review of laser fusion plasma physics and contains the most up-to-date information on high density plasma physics and radiation transport, useful for astrophysicists and high density physicists. The introductory chapter is a comprehensive description of the problems and achievements of laser-driven inertial confinement fusion as the most prominent motivation for the study of the physics of laser plasmas. The next chapter is devoted to a theoretical treatment of the atomic processes that determine the properties of laser plasmas. It is followed by two articles on the soft X-rays emitted by the plasmas, their use as diagnostic tool and the production of black-body radiation in this spectral range. Chapters 5 and 6 put main emphasis on the hydrodynamics of compression and heating of spherically symmetric targets, the problems of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities and the requirements imposed on the homogeneity of the laser radiation. The numerous phenomena occurring in the low-density corono region through the interaction of the intense electromagnetic radiation with a plasma are treated in chapters 7 to 10. The theoretical treatment of plasma turbulence excited in the corona and the description of the main linear and nonlinear interaction phenomena with emphasis on the experiments is followed by a special article on resonance absorption and ponderomotove action.

Table of Contents:
Editorial preface. Preface to volume 3. 1. Laser plasma and inertial confinement fusion (C. Yamanaka). 2. Atomic physics of laser-produced plasmas (R.M. More). 3. X-ray radiation from laser plasma (R. Kauffman). 4. Laser generated intense thermal radiation (R. Sigel). 5. Direct drive fusion studies (M.C. Richardson). 6. Symmetry and stability physics in laser fusion (S.E. Bodner). 7. Anomalous dissipation of strong electromagnetic waves in a laser plasma (R.Z. Sagdeev, V.D. Shapiro and V.I. Shevchenko). 8. Strong Langmuir turbulence in laser plasma (A.M. Rubenchik and V.E. Zakharov). 9. Laser-plasma interactions (H.A. Baldis, E.M. Campbell and W.L. Kruer). 10. Resonance absorption and ponderomotive action (P. Mulser). 11. Laser accelerators (F.F. Chen). 12. Magnetic fields in laser-produced plasma (L.A. Bolshov et al.). 13. Heat flux inhibition in laser-produced plasma (A.A. Galeev and A.M. Natanzon). 14. Energy transport in laser-produced plasmas (M.H. Key). Author index. Subject index.