Recent developments in laser plasma theory and simulations

The principal recent developments are that (1) nonlinear steepening of the density profile strongly modifies absorption processes near the critical density, (2) a sizeable stimulated reflection of light can occur; and (3) energy transport by hot electrons is impeded either by the need to draw a return current, by ion fluctuations generated by this return current, or by self-generated magnetic fields. A brief overview of these results is presented