2-D holographic density imaging

HY-Tech Research has developed a high resolution, high speed, two dimensional holographic plasma density diagnostic. The system can take a 500ps snapshot of a 2-D electron density distribution. The large dynamic range of the system allows measurement of electron line densities from 1 x 10¹⁶cm^-1 to 1 x 10¹⁹ cm^-1 in a single image.

The system was recently fielded on the  Double Eagle Radiation Effects Simulator located at Maxwell Physics International in San Leandro, Ca. A series of images were taken of an imploding, double walled cylindrical plasma. The walls are moving in at around 75cm/µs. The electron density in the plasma was tracked from the beginnings of the movement of the shells to near full implosion. The growth and evolution of Rayleigh Taylor instabilities could be seen on the 2-D images. These instabilities are thought to be an important factor in limiting the improvement of Radiation Effects Simulators.

2-D Electron Density in a Z-pinch Plasma