Laser Scattering from Dense Cesium Plasmas

Abstract
The diagnosis of a dense, cold, laser-induced, metal-vapor plasma by laser scattering techniques is reported here for the first time. The scattered spectra obtained at 90° with scattering parameter α=1.53 showed evidence of temperature inhomogeneities and/or plasma-wave damping by electron-ion collisions. The total scattered-light intensity could be explained by inclusion of a Ray-leigh scattering contribution from the cesium 6s6p blue wing. These results also represent the most non-Debye plasmas investigated to date by scattering.