Proof-of-principle laser-induced fluorescence measurements of gas distributions from supersonic nozzles

We have applied the technique of acetone laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to the measurement of gas distributions from axisymmetric supersonic nozzles used to produce loads for z-pinch plasma radiation sources. Typical peak particle densities are similar to10(17) particles/cm(3) for loads imploded on the Double-EAGLE facility. The experimental approach uses a pulsed laser (266 nm wavelength, 2.2 mJ per pulse, 5 ns pulse width, and 3x10(7) W/cm(2) intensity) to obtain a snapshot along a chord through the center of the gas density distribution at an arbitrary axial distance, z, from the nozzle exit. We report measurements at 4.3 and 20.0 mm from the exit of the nozzle for comparison with previous measurements. We find acceptable agreement between LIF and laser interferometer measurements. Strengths of the LIF approach include simplicity of implementation and high radial spatial resolution. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.