Analytical study of crossed atom-laser beam plasma diagnostics

A new method using crossed laser and atom beams within a plasma is capable of determining the electron density with a spatial resolution of 1 mm and a time resolution of 2-5 nsec. The measurement is done in the forward direction of the atom beam and is to a first approximation independent of electric and magnetic fields inside and outside the plasma region. A calculation is carried out for a neutral cesium beam probing a fully ionized hydrogen plasma. It is pointed out that a laser beam can also be combined with available ion beam diagnostics.