INVESTIGATION OF THOMSON SCATTERING FROM THE FREE ELECTRONS IN A PLASMA.

Abstract

A plasma diagnostic technique is presented which utilizes the Thomson scattering of a laser beam from free electrons. By this means a measurement may be made of both electron concentration and temperature. An extensive analysis of background radiation (noise) is given, and of the photoionization effects of the laser beam. Details of a plasma source which continuously simulates conditions in a reentry plasma, of a giant pulse laser, and of detection apparatus are described. By taking advantage of the broad Doppler spectrum of the Thomson-scattered light, measurements of the spectral wings to the exclusion of the laser wavelength permits the elimination of background radiation to a substantial degree. The investigation is specialized to conditions encountered in reentry plasmas, but would be applicable to measurements in rocket exhausts and explosion generated plasmas. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1966
Accession Number
AD0487312

Entities

People

  • Edward Rolfe
  • Giorgio Fiocco
  • J. K. Silk
  • R. Katyl

Organizations

  • RTX

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Background Radiation
  • Corpuscular Radiation
  • Detection
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Electrons
  • Free Electrons
  • Ionizing Radiation
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Nuclear Radiation
  • Radiation
  • Rocket Exhaust
  • Scattering
  • Thomson Scattering

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Spectroscopy.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics