We have measured the spatially and temporally resolved density in aZhyphen;pinch plasma by holographic interferometry. The high electron density (4times;1019e/cm3), short density scale length (100 mgr;m), and low temperature (about 20 eV) make the plasma source suitable for simulation of laserhyphen;pellet interaction experiments at 10.6hyphen;mgr;m laser wavelengths. A cinema of density evolution, indicating plasma pinching and subsequent relaxation, provides an experimental view of plasma dynamics which is then compared to simple theoretical models.
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