Plasma phase-space fluctuations

The low frequency electrostatic, kinetic, electromechanical degrees of freedom of weakly collisional plasma are studied through the measurement of correlation functions that are resolved in the ion phase-space using laser-induced fluorescence. Fluctuations in a CW magnetized cylindrical plasma column of n $\sim $ 10$^{9}$ cm$^{-3}$ singly ionized Argon produced by an inductively coupled source are observed using two movable periscopes that image 10mm$^{3}$ laser-illuminated volumes which can be translated along the magnetic field direction (the cylinder axis). Two-point correlation functions are be obtained which provide information on the linear and nonlinear dynamics of the ion degrees of freedom.