Steady-state model of the corona of spherical laser targets allowing for energy transfer by fast electrons

An investigation is made of the efficiency of hydrodynamic energy transfer in the corona of a laser plasma allowing for energy transfer by fast electrons. An analytic solution of the rate equation for fast electrons is used to determine the nature of energy release from fast electrons. The corona parameters for spherical laser targets and the coefficient of hydrodynamic energy transfer are determined by an analytic solution of steadystate hydrodynamic equations. It is found that energy transfer by fast electrons increases the hydrodynamic efficiency of long-wavelength CO₂ lasers.