Interferometric measurement of electron density in pulsed laser discharges

Abstract

A novel set-up for measuring the spatial distribution of electron density in a pulsed discharge is presented. The arrangement consists of a Michelson interferometer and a nitrogen laser pumping a dye laser synchronised with a discharge tube. Measurements accomplished with this set-up have dealt with discharges in non-uniform electric fields used for the excitation of pulsed gas lasers. The results of optical and electric measurements on stable discharges in nitrogen are compared with calculations based upon the assumption of a Maxwellian distribution of electron velocities.