Effect of spontaneous magnetic fields on energy transfer by fast electrons in spherical laser targets

Abstract

It is shown that the spontaneous magnetic fields generated due to development of hydrodynamic instability in the process of compression of spherical laser targets can substantially affect the energy transfer by fast electrons. The analytical solutions to the kinetic equation for the distribution function of fast electrons are obtained taking into account the reflection from the region of the magnetic-field localization. On the basis of these solutions, the effect of the spontaneous magnetic fields on the specific energy released by the fast electrons per unit mass and on preheating of the target material being compressed is investigated.