Direct time-resolved plasma characterization with broadband terahertz light pulses

authored by

Virgilijus Vaičaitis, Ona Balachninaitė, Aidas Matijošius, Ihar Babushkin, Uwe Morgner

Abstract

We report here the results of comprehensive plasma characterization and diagnostics by analyzing time-resolved absorption spectra of short ultrabroadband (0.1-50 THz) pulses propagated through the test plasma. Spectral analysis of plasma-induced absorption of such THz pulses provides very direct, in situ, high dynamical range, potentially single-shot access to the plasma density, plasma decay time, electron temperature, and ballistic dynamics of the plasma expansion. We have demonstrated a proof-of-principle measurement of plasma created by an intense laser beam. In particular, we showed a reliable measurement of plasma densities from around 1016 to 1020cm-3. Apart from the plasma parameters, this method allowed us to reconstruct peak intensity inside the plasma spot and to observe a very early stage of plasma evolution after its excitation.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Quantum Optics
PhoenixD: Photonics, Optics, and Engineering - Innovation Across Disciplines

External Organisation(s)

Vilnius University
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy im Forschungsbund Berlin e.V. (MBI)

Type

Article

Journal

Physical Review E

Volume

107

No. of pages

7

ISSN

2470-0045

Publication date

01.2023

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Statistical and Nonlinear Physics, Statistics and Probability, Condensed Matter Physics

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.107.015201 (Access: Closed)