Observation of long life plasma generated in a cavity by CO 2 lasers

Plasmas with long life times (∼20 ns) are generated in a cavity target by intense CO2 laser pulses (2 × 1014W/cm2). The plasma life depends on the configuration of irradiation and target, which may infer thermal conduction inhibition by the laser-generated magnetic field. The experimental results agree with those of computer simulations with magnetic inhibition of thermal conduction.