Temporal and spatial characterization of a pulsed gas jet by a compact high-speed high-sensitivity second-harmonic interferometer

Abstract

A compact modular high-speed high-sensitivity second-harmonic interferometer is used to characterize a pulsed gas jet. The temporal evolution of the line-integrated gas density is measured with a resolution of 1 μs revealing detailed information on its dynamics. The actual radial gas density distribution in the jet is obtained applying the Abel's inversion method. The sensitivity of the interferometer is 1 mrad, and its robustness, compactness and modularity make the instrument suitable for practical application. Possible use of the instrument in monitoring cluster formation, and phase-dispersion microscopy is discussed.