Diagnostics of Plasma Inhomogeneity by the Thomson Scattering Method

Abstract

The kinetic theory of Thomson scattering in an inhomogeneous plasma is constructed. As a result of the electron density inhomogeneity, the spectral lines become asymmetric with respect to the change in the sign of the frequency. This line asymmetry has been detected experimentally. This line asymmetry can be used as a new method for diagnosing local electron density gradients in a plasma.