Determination of Particle Densities and Line Profiles in Plasmas by Resonance Interferometry: A Feasibility Study using Computer Simulated Refractivity Data

Abstract

The principles of resonance interferometry are described with regard to two applications: High accuracy particle density determination within plasmas and interferometrical determination of spectral line profiles. The usability of this technique is investigated numerically, and physical limits are given for the regions in which resonance interferometry may be employed successfully. The discussion and the results are helt general for making it possible to decide whether or not to apply this method for an actual problem. An example (an object being longitudinally homogeneous with respect to the direction of light: end-on observation) shows how to use the presented results for calculating the detection limits of the method for a given object geometry.