High-resolution measurements of plasma density

Simultaneous measurements of the electron density and temperature distributions in a theta-pinch plasma have been made. The technique is based on the Thomson scattering of laser light and makes use of a spectrometer originally designed to measure absolute electron temperatures. Data are obtained by scanning the instrument over the plasma column and taking measurements of the scattered light and the plasma bremsstrahlung. Density and temperature distributions in plasma columns of 1 cm radius, 10 16 electrons/cm 3 density and 100 ev temperature have been resolved with an accuracy to 15%.