Microheterogeneous targets for plasma investigation are discussed. Microheterogeneity is obtained in the form of metal clusters dispersed inside solid material or foam as well as in the form of metallized aerogel. Microheterogeneous plasma is shown to be initiated by such targets and its behavior is analyzed. The only way to observe the long‐evolution plasma in a short laser experiment is to conserve a certain stage of plasma evolution in the target structure. Target structuring provides: 1) phase separated multi‐ion mixtures in highly non‐ideal plasmas, 2) extended corona (without any prepulse), 3) obscure stability through microinstabilities in the non‐linear growth regime. For ICF applications, underdence microheterogeneous plasma is equalizing the laser irradiation energy over the target‐in‐flight surface. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.