Spatially Resolved Plasma Diagnostics by Optical Interferometry

by Prof. Theo Neger (Technische Universität Graz)

Thursday 5 Oct 2000, 14:15 → 14:30 Europe/Zurich

30-7-LHC (CERN)

Coherent optics can serve as a powerful tool for particle density determination in plasma diagnostics. Different techniques based on classical, holographic and speckle interferometry are discussed with special emphasis of spatial resolution. While emission spectroscopy must undoubtedly be considered as the most commonly used and proven method for particle-selective diagnostics, interferometry shows its advantages in case of plasmas of significant optical thickness, when spatially resolved intensity measurements become less reliable. Examples for an application of the permanently growing field of non-linear optics to plasma diagnostics are presented, too.