Plasma motion induced by laser heating

Laser-induced motion is calculated for an underdense magnetically confined plasma column subjected to axial laser heating. Perturbation velocities and densities are determined for small values of the disturbance parameter defined as the ratio of the speed of sound to the speed of plasma growth due directly to laser absorption. The calculation confirms that for small values of the disturbance parameter, laser-induced plasma motion is unimportant. A number of relevant laser heating experiments are examined and classified with respect to induced plasma motions