Formation of synchronized light pulses for laser plasma diagnostics by a two-transit Pockels cell

Optical probe studies were made of a laser plasma in the ablation regime of heating of thermonuclear targets. Exact synchronization of a short (0.4 nsec) probe laser pulse with a heating radiation pulse (4 nsec) was ensured by a system based on a two-transit Pockels cell. The probe and heating pulses were formed by the same electrical pulse applied to a two-pass Pockels cell in the case of the probe radiation and to a conventional Pockels cell in the case of the heating radiation. The duration of the short probe laser pulse obtained in this way was approximately equal to half the duration of the leading edge of the electrical pulse. Frame interferograms of the laser plasma were recorded.