Influence of the electron distribution function shape on nonlocal electron heat transport in laser-heated plasmas

A nonlocal model of electron heat flow in laser-heated plasmas taking into account the super-Gaussian deformation of the electron velocity distribution function by the laser heating was developed. Based on comparisons to Fokker-Planck simulations of hot spot heating, it performs better than previous models. The growth rate of thermal filamentation is considerably changed by this thermal conductivity modification. First results from a formula describing the isotropic component, f(0)(x,v), of the electron velocity distribution function as a spatial convolution over local Maxwellians are also presented.