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Observation of an Ultracold Plasma Instability

X. L. Zhang, R. S. Fletcher, and S. L. Rolston
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 195002 – Published 5 November 2008
Physics logo See Synopsis: An ultracold plasma shows its unstable side

Abstract

We present the first observation of an instability in an expanding ultracold plasma. We observe periodic emission of electrons from an ultracold plasma in weak, crossed magnetic and electric fields, and a strongly perturbed electron density distribution in electron time-of-flight projection images. We identify this instability as a high-frequency electron drift instability due to the coupling between the electron drift wave and electron cyclotron harmonic, which has large wave numbers corresponding to wavelengths close to the electron gyroradius.

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  • Received 24 July 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.195002

©2008 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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An ultracold plasma shows its unstable side

Published 10 November 2008

The same instability that is observed in hot plasmas, such as those created in spacecraft ion thrusters, is also found in an ultracold xenon plasma.

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Authors & Affiliations

X. L. Zhang, R. S. Fletcher, and S. L. Rolston

  • Joint Quantum Institute and Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

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Issue

Vol. 101, Iss. 19 — 7 November 2008

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