Role of magnetic fields in suprathermal particle generation by laser-produced plasmas

In this note we first use a simple circuit model to summarize the properties of the strong magnetic fields generated in laser-produced plasmas. It is pointed out that these fields are expected to increase the efficiency of suprathermal particle production near the critical depth. They would also cause energetic electrons to drift into the overdense regions of the target, giving rise to some emission of high-energy x rays.