Enhanced Ion Fluctuations Generated in a CO2-Laser-Heated Plasma

Abstract
Ion turbulence generated in a CO2-laser-heated plasma has been studied by means of ruby-laser Thomson scattering. The first general measurement of the ion fluctuation spectrum, S(k), induced in the plane of the laser electric field has been made and is reported here. High-speed streak measurements of Thomson-scattered light indicate very short-duration (≲3 ns) and very fast-rise-time (∼10 ps) features in the enhanced ion fluctuations.