ABSTRACT
The ability to concentrate large amounts of energy in a small volume makes the laser a unique tool for the controlled deposition of energy into matter. The inverse bremsstrahlung and resonant absorption in linear and nonlinear regimes, absorption on ionacoustic fluctuations and parametric absorption, as well as the absorption in nonstationary corona and the absorption of ultrashort laser pulses, are considered in this chapter. A laser beam with a nonuniform distribution of intensity over its cross section can undergo either self-focusing or filamentation in laser-produced plasma. The successful solution of the laser fusion problem requires the deposition of a substantial part of the heating radiation energy into the plasma. The question about laser radiation absorption efficiency is of considerable importance in this context. Modern experimental investigations allow one to investigate the laser radiation absorption coefficient dependence on laser flux, wavelength, polarization, radiation pulse-to-pre-pulse ratio, pulse duration, and so on.
