Some calculations of the heating of small pellets by laser radiation using the similarity model

Abstract

The validity of the similarity or self-similar model of laser plasma heating is examined and some criteria relating to the maximum radium of pellets to which it may be applied, are derived. Numerical studies of the parametric variation of plasma parameters with laser variation are presented. It is found that substantially increased energies may be expected with CO2 lasers, compared with ND:glass.