Refraction of an electromagnetic probe wave in a laser plasma

Journal Article · Sat Jan 31 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1070/QE1998V028N01ABEH001133· OSTI ID:21435898

Sarkisov, G S ^[1]

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1. P.N. Lebedev Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (Russian Federation)

A method for reconstructing the refraction angle of electromagnetic probe radiation, based on a field-visualisation interferogram, was proposed and implemented in laser plasma experiments. A reconstruction of the refraction angle involved determination of partial derivatives of an interference phase shift {partial_derivative}{delta}/{partial_derivative}x and {partial_derivative}{delta}/{partial_derivative}y at each point of the wavefront reconstructed from an interferogram. An example is given of an analysis of a laser-plasma interferogram obtained on irradiation of an aluminium target with a 2 ns pulse from a powerful Nd : YAG laser of 25 J energy and 527 nm wavelength (the intensity on the target surface was {approx}10{sup 14} W cm{sup -2}). The refraction angle of the probe radiation reached {approx}3{sup 0} and the maximum electron density in the plasma was {approx}2.6 x 10{sup 20} cm{sup -3}. The proposed method for reconstructing the refraction angle makes it possible to visualise the structure of an inhomogeneity in the investigated object and to answer unambiguously the question of the cause of the appearance of an 'opaque zone', observed in experiments on laser plasmas and Z pinches. (interaction of laser radiation with matter. laser plasma)

• OSTI ID: 21435898
• Journal Information: Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.), Journal Name: Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 28; ISSN 1063-7818
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM
ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELEMENTS
INTERFERENCE
INTERFEROMETRY
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
METALS
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PHASE SHIFT
PLASMA
PROBES
PULSES
RADIATIONS
REFRACTION
SOLID STATE LASERS
WAVELENGTHS