The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory has been at the forefront of investigations into the physics associated with the fast ignition concept for inertial confinement fusion. This scheme involves complex laser-plasma processes, the theoretical understanding of which relies heavily on particle-in-cell calculations. In this paper, three experiments displaying quantitative agreement with detailed multi-dimensional PIC calculations are reviewed: hole-boring velocity measurements; relativistic self-focusing; and harmonic generation from plasma surfaces. Qualitative agree- ment of hot electron temperature measurements with PIC simulations are also discussed. The authors believe these results are very encouraging for the fast ignition concept.
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