PHYSICS OF THE PLASMA CORONA IN THE PROBL EM OF LASER CONTROLLED THERMONUCLEAR FUSION

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