Fluctuations in laser-produced plasmas

Abstract

The theory of stable fluctuations, sustained owing to particle discreteness, is discussed in the context of laser-fusion plasmas. After a short review of basic results from fluctuation theory, the kinetic description of homogeneous underdense plasmas in the field of a strong electromagnetic wave is presented. The enhancement of the fluctuation level in the subthreshold regime of parametric instabilities and its effect on collisionality are discussed. The theory of hydrodynamical fluctuations in highly compressed cold plasmas is then derived. The kinetic model for this strongly coupled, two-component plasma is renormalized, taking proper account of static correlations. The results for electron conductivities are presented, extending Braginskii's theory into the strongly coupled regime.