Coulomb Expansion of Laser-Excited Ion Plasmas

D. Feldbaum, N. V. Morrow, S. K. Dutta, and G. Raithel
Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 173004 – Published 8 October 2002

Abstract

We determine the electric field in mm-sized clouds of cold Rb+ ions, produced by photoionization of laser-cooled R87b atoms in a magneto-optical trap, using the Stark effect of embedded Rydberg atoms. The dependence of the electric field on the time delay between the ion plasma production and the probe of the electric field reflects the Coulomb expansion of the plasma. Our experiments and models show expansion times <1μs.

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  • Received 12 March 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.173004

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

D. Feldbaum, N. V. Morrow, S. K. Dutta, and G. Raithel

  • FOCUS Center, Physics Department, University of Michigan, 500 East University, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1120

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Issue

Vol. 89, Iss. 17 — 21 October 2002

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