Expansion Dynamics of Cold Non-Neutral Plasma

Abstract

We study the expansion of a strongly coupled, non-neutral, and cylindrically arranged ion plasma into the vacuum. The plasma is made from cold rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and is formed via ultraviolet photoionization. Higher-density and lower-density plasmas are studied to exhibit different aspects indicative of strong coupling. In a higher-density regime, we report on the formation and persistence of plasma shock fronts, as well as external-field-induced plasma focusing effects. In the lower-density regime, conditions are ideal to observe the development and evolution of nearest-neighbor ion correlations, as well as geometry-induced asymmetries in the pair correlation function. Simulated results from a trajectory model and a fluid model are in good agreement with the measurements.

arXiv comment8 pages, 10 figures

References in corpus (21)

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• Heating and cooling of electrons in an ultracold neutral plasma using Rydberg atoms
• Rydberg state ionization dynamics and tunnel ionization rates in strong electric fields
• Ionization spectra of highly Stark shifted rubidium Rydberg states
• Quantum-optical spectroscopy for plasma electric field measurements and diagnostics
• Expansion of an ultracold Rydberg plasma
• What is the temperature of an ultra-cold Rydberg plasma?

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Long-range Rydberg-atom-ion molecules of Rb and Cs
• Ultrafast Electron Cooling in an Expanding Ultracold Plasma
• Electric field analysis in a cold-ion source using Stark spectroscopy of Rydberg atoms
• Effects of inert background gases and photo-illumination on three-color electromagnetically induced transparency of rubidium vapor
• Dynamic polarizability of the ${}^{85}$Rb $5D_{3/2}$-state in 1064 nm light