Studies on fast electron transport in the context of fast ignition

This paper deals with the problem of fast electron propagation in plasmas, in the context of the fast ignition (FI) approach to inertial confinement fusion (ICF). In FI, a short-pulse high-intensity laser beam should generate a beam of relativistic electrons, which propagate into the compressed pellet, depositing energy and igniting the fuel. The study of electron propagation in dense matter is hence essential to the success of this scheme. The propagation of relativistic electrons in dense matter is determined by collisions of fast electrons with ions and electrons in the material, which can be described in terms of stopping power, but it also depends on self-generated magnetic and electric fields, which play a major, or even dominant role. In this paper we will show the importance of such collective effects by discussing several experimental examples. (author)