When a laser beam impinges upon a plasma pellet, a sizeable portion of the incident energy is scattered away. This refraction is primarily caused by the electron density gradient. However, by enclosing the pellet in a metal cavity some of the scattered energy can be focused back into the plasma. When the electron density is spherically symmetric, overdense, and sufficiently steep, an optimal cavity can be constructed. This cavity transforms the scattered wave into a converging spherical wave. This wave penetrates up to the critical surface and according to the classical theory should give the most absorption.
展开▼
