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

1980; Optica Publishing Group; Volume: 19; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1364/ao.19.000952

ISSN

0003-6935

Autores

Edward L. Pierce,

Tópico(s)

Laser Material Processing Techniques

Resumo

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(20)-10(21)-e/cc range, with density contour velocities of 10(6) to 10(7) cm/sec and spatial resolution of 1 microm 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 plasmas obtained at 2660 A with a combined resolution of 1 microm and 15 psec are presented.

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