Detection of ion plasma waves by collective Thomson scattering

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.3604· OSTI ID:55252

Bauer, B S; Drake, R P; Estabrook, K G; Watt, R G; Wilke, M D; Baker, S A ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)

The first unambiguous experimental detection of ion plasma waves is reported. These short-wavelength ({ital k}{lambda}{sub De}{gt}1), purely electrostatic ion waves were first predicted by Tonks and Langmuir in 1929. The waves are observed in a long-scalelength ({ital L}{gt}10{sup 4}/{ital k}), multiply ionized ({ital Z}=22), laser-produced plasma. The frequency ({omega}), wave number ({ital k}), and amplitude evolution of the ion waves are measured by time-resolved spectroscopy of the scattering from the ion waves of a probe laser beam. The wave frequency is approximately the ion plasma frequency ({omega}{sub {ital pi}}) when {ital k}{lambda}{sub De} exceeds 1, as predicted by the theoretical dispersion relation.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 55252
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 74; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AMPLITUDES
DETECTION
DISPERSION RELATIONS
FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT
ION PLASMA WAVES
SHORT WAVE RADIATION
SPECTROSCOPY
THOMSON SCATTERING
TONKS-LANGMUIR THEORY
WAVELENGTHS