Abstract
The present paper examines in detail some issues related to the application of submillimeter laser imaging interferometry for measuring electron density radial profiles in small, strongly refracting, plasma objects. Described is an analysis of the optical scheme of an interferometer based on the concepts of geometrical and wave optics. Also given are the results of computerized calculations and optimization of one of the variants of the scheme aimed at obtaining the maximum spatial resolution up to the wavelength under phase distortion of less than 0.1 of the interference order. Besides, the paper discusses the effect of probing radiation deviation at the refractive index gradients of phase-inhomogeneous objects as well as the effect of its possible ellipticity on the interferometric data. The experimental results obtained with various model objects including arcs with low electron density, which burn in conducting flows of combustion products are presented.
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