PLASMA PHYSICS RELATED TO ULTRA-INTENSE LASERS

Reviewed are recent development of plasma physics researches related t o the ''fast ignitor''. In this concept, laser channeling and energy d eposition of relativistically intense laser pulse are key issues. Rece nt experiments at Osaka University indicate that the laser channeling reaches overdense plasmas. Two-dimensional PIC simulations also indica te the overdense plasma channeling. Finally, the present status of con struction and experiment of the 100TW beam line added to the Gekko XII laser system is described.