Expansion Dynamics of Cold Non-Neutral Plasma

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Viray, Michael A, Miller, Stephanie A, Raithel, Georg
Format Paper Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 13.11.2019
Subjects
Computer simulation
Coupling (molecular)
Density
Photoionization
Physics - Atomic Physics
Physics - Plasma Physics
Plasma
Plasmas
Rubidium
Shock fronts
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1911.05622