Limitation of the electron thermal conductivity of a laser plasma

Results are presented of studies of the limitation of the electron thermal conductivity in a laser plasma under conditions of a spherical target irradiation geometry when the power densities of the heating radiation on the target surface were in the range 30–400 TW/cm². The coefficient representing limitation of the electron thermal conductivity f was determined from a comparison of measured absorption coefficients of the laser radiation, the average rate of target compression, and the mass evaporation rate with the results of numerical calculations. A consistent calculation and theoretical description of the experimental data was achieved for f> 0.1.