Laser filamentation in a thermally unstable plasma

Abstract
The propagation of laser light in a thermally unstable plasma attributable to potential imbalances in the local heating and cooling rates caused by density or temperature perturbations is considered. The linear growth rates of laser filamentation and thermal instability are governed by a single fifth‐order dispersion relation. The behavior of different modes in various limits is discussed in detail and examples of potential applications to laser–target interactions are given.

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