Beam-Weibel filamentation instability in near-term and fast-ignition experiments

High intensity laser-plasma interactions accelerate electrons to suprathermal velocities. Their current is neutralized by an induced cold electron return current. These inter-penetrating and anti-parallel currents are subject to electrostatic and electromagnetic instability. Two analytical models for electron transport are used to predict the growth rates of the linear electromagnetic beam-Weibel filamentation instability in both near-term laser-solid experiments as well as in future fast-ignition experiments. Specifications and calculations of the relevant physical parameters are made. Both models predict that instability growth is significant for the fast-ignition case. Instability development in near-term experiments is also significant, but with a greater difference between the models' predictions at low densities. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.