Electron-Density Structures in Laser-Produced Plasmas at High Irradiances

Interferometric measurements have been made of the electron-density structures produced in plasmas generated by the interaction of 1.06-μm radiation with targets at irradiances $I$ of ${10}^{16}$ W ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-2\mathrm{}}$. Strong profile steepening near critical density with an $I^{0.16}$ scaling is observed together with supercritical density bumps and structures attributable to magnetic field effects.