Time-resolved two-dimensional plasma spectroscopy using coherence-imaging techniques

We describe methods for time-resolved imaging of the complex coherence of a spectral scene at one or more optical delays using electro-optically modulated polarization interferometers. By encoding the coherence information at harmonics of the electro-optic modulation frequency, it can be possible to obtain unambiguous spatio-temporal information about important physical parameters that govern the spectral content of the scene. We discuss the physical principles upon which the instrument is based and describe some applications in plasma spectroscopy, including Doppler tomography, Zeeman spectroscopy and relative line intensity measurements.