Ionization of Rydberg atoms embedded in an ultracold plasma

Abstract

We have studied the behavior of cold Rydberg atoms embedded in an ultracold plasma. We demonstrate that even deeply bound Rydberg atoms are completely ionized in such an environment, due to electron collisions. Using a fast pulse extraction of the electrons from the plasma we found that the number of excess positive charges, which is directly related to the electron temperature Te, is not strongly affected by the ionization of the Rydberg atoms. Assuming a Michie-King equilibrium distribution, in analogy with globular star cluster dynamics, we estimate Te. Without concluding on heating or cooling of the plasma by the Rydberg atoms, we discuss the range for changing the plasma temperature by adding Rydberg atoms.

To be published in P.R.A

References in corpus (4)

• Creation of an Ultracold Neutral Plasma
• Internal Dynamics of Globular Clusters
• Electron Temperature of Ultracold Plasmas
• Plasma formation from ultracold Rydberg gases

Cited by in corpus (13)

• Ultracold Neutral Plasmas
• Imaging the evolution of an ultracold strontium Rydberg gas
• Ionization of Rydberg atoms by blackbody radiation
• Cold and Ultracold Rydberg Atoms in Strong Magnetic Fields
• Strongly Coupled Plasmas via Rydberg-Blockade of Cold Atoms
• Star clusters dynamics in a laboratory: electrons in an ultracold plasma
• Dissipative dynamics of atomic and molecular Rydberg gases: Avalanche to ultracold plasma states of strong coupling
• Heating and cooling of electrons in an ultracold neutral plasma using Rydberg atoms
• Transition Rates for a Rydberg Atom Surrounded by a Plasma
• Interaction-Enhanced Imaging of Rydberg P states
• Electron Temperature Relaxation in the Clusterized Ultracold Plasmas
• Ionization of Rydberg atoms embedded in Ultracold Plasma due to electron-atom interaction
• Ultrafast many-body dynamics of dense Rydberg gases and ultracold plasma