Experimental Investigation of the Production and Containment of a Laser-Produced Plasma

Abstract

The results of optical interferometric measurements in a laser produced plasma are presented. Two processes are studied. First, the quantity of charge in the plasma, as a function of the power density at the focal spot; agreement is found with the theoretical one-dimensional heating model. Second, expansion in a uniform magnetic field. Here, confinement occurs in the first stage and is rapidly perturbed by a large flow of the plasma across the field. This flow is explained by a charge separation when a highly directed velocity exists.