Ponderomotive perturbations of low density low-temperature plasma under laser Thomson scattering diagnostics

The ponderomotive perturbation in the interaction region of laser radiation with a low density and low-temperature plasma is considered. Estimates of the perturbation magnitude are determined from the plasma parameters, geometry, intensity and wavelength of laser radiation. It is shown that ponderomotive perturbations can lead to large errors in the electron density when measured using Thomson scattering.