Coupled rate-equation hydrodynamic simulation of a Rydberg gas Gaussian ellipsoid: Classical avalanche and evolution to molecular plasma

Abstract

An ellipsoidal volume of Rydberg molecules, entrained in a supersonic molecular beam, evolves on a nanosecond timescale to form a strongly coupled ultracold plasma. We present coupled rate-equation simulations that model the underlying kinetic processes and molecular dissociation channels in both a uniformly distributed plasma and under the conditions dictated by our experimental geometry. Simulations predict a fast electron-driven collisional avalanche to plasma followed by slow electron-ion recombination. Within 20 $\mu$s, release of Rydberg binding energy raises the electron temperature of a static plasma to $T_e=100$ K. Providing for a quasi-self-similar expansion, the hot electron gas drives ion radial motion, reducing $T_e$. These simulations provide a classical baseline model from which to consider quantum effects in the evolution of charge gradients and ambipolar forces in an experimental system undergoing responsive avalanche dynamics.

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Dissipative dynamics of atomic and molecular Rydberg gases: Avalanche to ultracold plasma states of strong coupling
• Many-body physics with ultracold plasmas: Quenched randomness and localization
• Radio frequency field-induced electron mobility in an ultracold plasma state of arrested relaxation
• mm-wave Rydberg-Rydberg resonances as a witness of intermolecular coupling in the arrested relaxation of a molecular ultracold plasma
• Dynamical control in a prethermalized molecular ultracold plasma: Local dissipation drives global relaxation