title: Refractive Q-switching of a ruby laser by a moving plasma.
abstract: A ruby laser was Q-switched by means of a plasma. The plasma, which had a density of up to 10(18) cm(-3), was produced in an electromagnetic shock tube. The density gradient created by the reflected plasma was large enough to produce measurable refraction of the laser beam. The laser cavity, which was initially misaligned, attained perfect alignment when the plasma was introduced into the cavity.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, Physics Department, London, Ontario N6A 3K7.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dembinski
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: John