Application of novel techniques for interferogram analysis to laser-plasma femtosecond probing

Recently, two novel techniques for the extraction of the phase-shift map (Tomassini et al. (2001). Applied Optics 40, 35) and the electronic density map estimation (Tomassini P. & Giulietti A. (2001). Optics Communication 199, 143-148) have been proposed. In this article, we apply both methods to a sample laser-plasma interferogram obtained with fetmoseconds probe pulse, in an experimental setup devoted to laser particle acceleration studies