PHYSICS OF THE PLASMA CORONA IN THE PROBLEM OF LASER CONTROLLED THERMONUCLEAR FUSION

A brief analysis is made of the most important nonlinear processes which result from the interaction of laser radiation with thermonuclear targets. It is shown that problems in the physics of the plasma corona should be an essential part of any programme of research on laser controlled thermonuclear fusion. A list is given of the problems that have to be solved first before going to the next level of laser energies.