Multiframe holographic interferometry for transient plasma diagnostics

A laser beam splitting technique is described which allows four consecutive pulses to be obtained from a single initial short laser pulse. Splitting of the initial beam provides two sets of four consecutive pulses of approximately the same energy. The arrangement is particularly useful in performing multi-frame time-resolved holography. The technique has been successfully used to produce time resolved image-plane holographic interferograms of a short lived laser spark. The infrared component of a Q-switched frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser was used to produce the laser spark and the green component was split to obtain four consecutive interferograms of the laser produced plasma with time resolution of 4 and 20 ns. The technique can easily be extended to double the number of pulses. (author). 4 refs, 5 figs