Creation of an Ultracold Neutral Plasma

T. C. Killian, S. Kulin, S. D. Bergeson, L. A. Orozco, C. Orzel, and S. L. Rolston
Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 4776 – Published 6 December 1999
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Abstract

We report the creation of an ultracold neutral plasma by photoionization of laser-cooled xenon atoms. The charge carrier density is as high as 2×109cm3, and the temperatures of electrons and ions are as low as 100 mK and 10μK, respectively. Plasma behavior is evident in the trapping of electrons by the positive ion cloud when the Debye screening length becomes smaller than the size of the sample. We produce plasmas with parameters such that both electrons and ions are strongly coupled.

  • Received 30 July 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.4776

©1999 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

T. C. Killian, S. Kulin, S. D. Bergeson*, L. A. Orozco, C. Orzel, and S. L. Rolston

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8424

  • *Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602-4640.
  • Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794-3800.

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Issue

Vol. 83, Iss. 23 — 6 December 1999

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