Heating and Compression of Thermonuclear Targets by Laser Beam

Laser fusion is under study in laboratories throughout the world because it may have an important impact on the production of practically inexhaustible sources of energy from controlled thermonuclear fusion reactions. This book describes the essential processes associated with laser thermonuclear synthesis and summarises the most important developments that have occurred during the second half of the 1970s and in the early 1980's. Laser techniques and plasma diagnostics specifically used for laser-produced plasmas are covered, together with the results of the measurements that have been made. In some areas emphasis is given to techniques and results from the Lebedev Physical Institute, which is the main laboratory engaged in this field in the USSR. Data from laboratories all over the world, however, are also collated and compared to give an overall, coherent view of the current state of knowledge in this field.