Using higher ionization states to increase Coulomb coupling in an ultracold neutral plasma

M. Lyon, S. D. Bergeson, A. Diaw, M. S. Murillo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report measurements and simulations of the time-evolving rms velocity distribution in an ultracold neutral plasma. A strongly coupled ultracold neutral Ca+ plasma is generated by photoionizing laser-cooled atoms close to threshold. A fraction of these ions is then promoted to the second ionization state to form a mixed Ca+-Ca2+ plasma. By varying the time delay between the first and the second ionization events, a minimum in ion heating is achieved. We show that the Coulomb strong-coupling parameter Γ increases by a factor of 1.4 to a maximum value of 3.6. A pure Ca2+ plasma would have Γ=6.8, moving these strongly coupled systems closer to the regime of liquid-like correlations.

Original languageEnglish
Article number033101
JournalPhysical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
Volume91
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2 2015
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science Foundation

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