Designing a probe beam and an ultraviolet holographic microinterferometer for plasma probing

Journal Article · Sat Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Appl. Opt.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.19.000952· OSTI ID:5533103

Pierce, E L

The requirements and techniques for time- and space-resolved picosecond probing of laser-produced plasmas are reviewed. The design and limitations of a holographic microinterferometer are discussed, and optical pulse techniques are presented. This technique can provide significant data for understanding the absorption of energy within laser-produced plasmas. The primary requirements are to measure the electron densities in the 10/sup 20/--10/sup 21/-e/cc range, with density contour velocities of 10/sup 6/ to 10/sup 7/ cm/sec and spatial resolution of 1 ..mu..m or better. For these velocities one requires a probe pulse duration of 3--30 psec, an UV wavelength as short as feasible, and large numerical aperture optics corrected for spherical aberration. Interferograms of laser-produced plasma obtained at 2660 A with a combined resolution of 1 ..mu..m and 15 psec are presented.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, University of California, Livermore, California 94550
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5533103
• Journal Information: Appl. Opt.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Opt.; (United States) Vol. 19:6; ISSN APOPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700102* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Diagnostics
DESIGN
ELECTRON DENSITY
INTERFEROMETRY
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
RESOLUTION
SPATIAL RESOLUTION