Temperature and density of an expanding laser produced plasma

Abstract

The density and temperature of an expanding laser produced carbon plasma were measured over a large range of distances by several different methods. The density of an expanding element was found to have a time dependence ne varies as t-3. The electron temperature of the same element was found to decay with a dependence Tc varies as t-1 rather than the theoretical adiabatic Te varies as t-2. These results confirm theoretical predictions about the effect of three body recombination on the cooling of a laser produced plasma.