Experimental observation of cavitons and rarefaction waves in laser-produced plasma

Abstract
A Wollaston’s prism interferometer and a 632.9 nm probe beam having a 10 psec (FWHM) pulse are used to detect the electron density profile instabilities in a 1.06 μm laser‐produced plasma. Experimental observations of cavitons and rarefaction waves are presented and discussed for a laser irradiance of 1015 W/cm2.