title: Feedback-stabilized fractional fringe laser interferometer for plasma density measurements.
abstract: A feedback stabilization technique is described for a fractional fringe interferometer measuring plasma electron densities. Using this technique, a CO2 laser Michelson interferometer with a pyroelectric detector exhibited a sensitivity of 3.4 x 10(-4) fringe on a 1-ms time scale and, due to acoustic pickup, 1.8 x 10(-2) fringe on a 10-ms time scale. The rise time is 45 micros. Stabilization against slow drifts in mirror distances is achieved by an electromechanically translated mirror driven by a servo system having a 0.2-s response time. A mechanical chopper in one of the two beam paths generates the signal which drives the servo system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of California, Irvine, California 92717, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robertson