Photoemission mechanism of generation of a current and a magnetic field as a result of interaction of laser radiation with a metal surface

An account is given of a photoemission mechanism of generation of a current and of a "fast" component of a spontaneous magnetic field as a result of interaction of laser radiation with a metal surface. The key feature of the proposed theory is an allowance for the magnetization of a conducting aureole and for an inhomogeneity of illumination of the metal target by the radiation emitted from an erosion jet. Analytic expressions are obtained for the magnetic induction near the surface and for the current on the surface in the cathode region. A comparison is made with the experimental results.