Non-linear optical techniques as Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS), Two-Photon-Allowed-Laser-Induced Fluorescence (TALIF) and Laser-Induced Photodetachment (LIP) are very successful tools to diagnose process plasmas. They mainly deliver detailed information concerning the population densities of excited states of molecular, atomic and ionic species. Therefore, they are very helpful to appraise the deviations from the equilibrium state, to elucidate the significance of processes and to validate the results of plasma modeling. The diagnostic methods mentioned are utilized to investigate several basic and applied problems in the medium and high pressure range as cw CO2 gas laser plasmas, cw and pulsed microwave discharges for exhaust gas purification, and microwave generated plasmas as test bed for non-linear laser-aided experiments.
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