Multiframe interferometric study of a laser irradiated plasma in the presence of the two plasmon decay instability

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859870· OSTI ID:5903883

Meyer, J; Houtman, H ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2A6, Canada (CA)

The temporal development of the electron density distribution in a CO{sub 2}-laser produced plasma is studied interferometrically at 10.5 GHz framing rates with 50 psec resolution. The plasma is produced in a helium gas jet target and has a maximum density of 5{times}10{sup 18} cm{sup {minus}3}. Thomson scattering of probe ruby laser radiation in a second experiment shows that the two plasmon decay instability is excited in this plasma and appears in multiple bursts. Excellent correlation between the temporal variations of the density scale length just below quarter critical density and that of the two plasmon decay wave intensity demonstrates the instability quenching property of ponderomotive profile steepening.

• OSTI ID: 5903883
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 3:3; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700102 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Diagnostics
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FREQUENCY RANGE
GAS LASERS
GASES
GHZ RANGE
GHZ RANGE 01-100
HELIUM
INELASTIC SCATTERING
INTERFEROMETERS
JETS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONMETALS
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMONS
PROBES
QUASI PARTICLES
RARE GASES
RESOLUTION
RUBY LASERS
SCATTERING
SOLID STATE LASERS
THOMSON SCATTERING