Self-generated magnetic fields and thermal flux inhibition

We show that the observed thermal flux inhibition in high intensity, short pulse laser-plasma interaction experiments can stem directly from the strong magnetic fields generated at the ablation layer as a result of laser asymmetries. The self-consistent modeling of magnetized thermal transport in this environment shows strong thermal flux inhibition as manifested by reduced ablation pressures, reduced implosion velocities, reduced classical absorption, density profile flattening and reduced mass ablation rates.