Convective stimulated Raman scattering instability in UV laser plasmas

Abstract
Time‐resolved stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) spectra from UV laser‐produced plasmas are reported. In analyzing these spectra the theory for SRS in inhomogeneous plasma is extended. This theory is applied to obtain temporally resolved electron temperatures in the plasma corona. Typical coronal temperatures for plastic targets irradiated at 1015 W/cm2 range up to 1.8 keV. A comparison is made with the predictions of hydrodynamic simulations.