Enhanced Laser Scattering and Bremsstrahling Emission from Nonthermal Theta-Pinch Plasmas
Abstract
The author investigated the conditions under which enhanced scattering of far-IR laser radiation (lambda = 337 microns) can be obtained from theta-pinch plasmas. The enhanced scattering cross section results from large electron density fluctuations generated by nonthermal electrons in the plasma. The scattering cross section is derived from kinetic theory using rigid rotor distributions to model the specific theta-pinch plasma and the conditions under which it can become greatly enhanced are examined. Three types of bremsstrahlung-free-free, magnetic wave-wave, and nonmagnetic wave-wave-are discussed and the power produced by each kind computed and compared to the scattered power. For typical HCN laser power densities of the order of 10 watts/ square cm, the bremsstrahlung considerably exceeds the scattered power in both the wideband (over all frequencies) and narrowband receiver cases. Additional calculations indicate that an experiment with the more powerful CO2 laser (lambda = 10.6micrometers) would be more likely to succeed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0753404
Entities
People
- Howard M. Stainer
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University