Measurement of Laser-Plasma Electron Density with a Soft X-ray Laser Deflectometer

Abstract
A soft x-ray laser (wavelength λ = 15.5 nanometers) was used to create a moiré deflectogram of a high-density, laser-produced plasma. The use of deflectometry at this short wavelength permits measurement of the density spatial profile in a long-scalelength (3 millimeters), high-density plasma. A peak density of 3.2 x 1021 per cubic centimeter was recorded.