Panoramic measurements of electron beam densities by Thomson scattering of laser radiation

The possibility of using a panoramic detector with a television signal-recording system in an apparatus to observe Thomson scattering of laser radiation by a nonrelativistic electron beam is discussed. Panoramas of Thomson and Rayleigh scattering and of the electron beam luminescence are presented. Estimates are given of the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the apparatus. Results of panoramic and single-point methods of investigation are compared. Possibilities for extending the range of the Thomson scattering method to measure the density distribution in nonrelativstic electron beams are discussed.