Models of laser plasma ablation. Part 4. Steadystate theory: collisional absorption flow

The clarification of models of laser ablation by plasma heating is examined using a general dimensional argument and introducing a set of universal parameters. The regime of laser-plasma interaction in which collisional absorption and thermal conduction dominate is examined for spherical systems. Detailed scaling relations are derived for uninhibited and flux-limited thermal conduction. The complete set of regimes for steady spherical flow are examined, and it is found that the most important flows are thin collisional and thick local absorption.