Subnanosecond microscopic holographic interferometry of plasmas produced by 1-nsec CO2 laser pulses

Two-dimensional distributions of the electron density within plasmas produced by 1-nsec-duration high-intensity (≳1013 W/cm2) CO2 laser pulses on solid polyethylene targets have been obtained with the aid of microscopic holograhphic interferometry. Short 700-psec pulses, derived from a synchronized ruby laser, were used to illuminate the interferometric system, which had a spatial resolution of ∼10 μ.