Plasma generation and heating by lasers

The results are given of investigations of the damage to laser glasses by high-power radiation, the use of liquid lasers as light amplifiers, and the application of high-power lasers in plasma heating. A description is given of a new method for the rapid measurement of the temperature and density of a plasma on the basis of the Thomson scattering of light. A complex structure is reported for the central ion peak in the spectrum of the scattered light. It is also reported that 20 neutrons are emitted from solid targets after irradiation with a single laser pulse.