Abstract
We use an interferometric method for measuring the plasma density in a laser-induced plasma as a function of time. Any changes in the density within 5 ns of generation is due plasma expansion and not recombination. The analytic solution for plasma expansion derived for ultracold Neutral Plasmas describes the expansion of our laser produced Neon plasma of densities up to approximately 40 Torr. A model for the utlracold neutral plasmas, in comparison with measurements of our plasmas, can be used to extract an electron temperature. Currently our plasmas have shown to have an electron temperature of approximately 44 eV.
Degree
MS
College and Department
Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy
Rights
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Heilmann, Nathan Edward, "Measurement of Plasma Density in a Gas-Filled Ionizing Laser Focus" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 2947.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2947
Date Submitted
2012-02-17
Document Type
Thesis
Handle
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd4990
Keywords
Laser-produced plasmas, atomic physics, ultracold neutral plasmas, interferometry
Language
English