Investigation of gas discharge by schlieren method and interferometry with automated processing of schlieren photographs and interferograms

The principles are clarified of two optical plasma diagnostics techniques, viz., the interferometric method permitting the determination of electron density and the schlieren method determining the gradient of electron density. Both techniques in combination were used in investigating the plasma in a hydrogen hollow-cathode spark discharge. In the schlieren technique, a pulsed xenon laser, in the interference technique a helium-neon laser were used as the light sources. Schlieren photographs were processed automatically using an electronic computer. A detailed description is presented of the equipment for the automatic photograph evaluation. (A.K.)