Time-resolved spectrum output from a grating spectrometer

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how time-resolved spectra from a grating spectrometer in laser-produced plasma experiments are formed, showing they are convolutions of the instrument response and plasma properties.

Contribution

It clarifies the physical meaning of time-resolved spectra output from a grating spectrometer in plasma diagnostics.

Findings

Recorded signal is convolution of dispersion response and plasma form factor.

The analysis links spectral data to local plasma dynamics.

Provides insight into interpreting spectrometer data in plasma experiments.

Abstract

Time-resolved spectra are often recorded in optical Thomson scattering experiments of laser-produced plasmas. In this essay, the meaning of time-resolved spectra output from a grating spectrometer is examined. Our results show that the recorded signal is indeed the convolution of the response function of dispersion element and the product of instant local dynamic form factor and electron density.