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Magnetic Confinement of an Ultracold Neutral Plasma

G. M. Gorman, M. K. Warrens, S. J. Bradshaw, and T. C. Killian
Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 085002 – Published 25 February 2021
Physics logo See synopsis: Holding on to a Cold Plasma

Abstract

We demonstrate magnetic confinement of an ultracold neutral plasma (UCNP) created at the null of a biconic cusp, or quadrupole magnetic field. Initially, the UCNP expands due to electron thermal pressure. As the plasma encounters stronger fields, expansion slows and the density distribution molds to the field. UCNP electrons are strongly magnetized over most of the plasma, while ion magnetization is only significant at the boundaries. Observations suggest that electrons and ions are predominantly trapped by magnetic mirroring and ambipolar electric fields, respectively. Confinement times approach 0.5 ms, while unmagnetized plasmas dissipate on a timescale of a few tens of microseconds.

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  • Received 10 November 2020
  • Revised 5 January 2021
  • Accepted 22 January 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.085002

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Plasma PhysicsAtomic, Molecular & Optical

synopsis

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Holding on to a Cold Plasma

Published 25 February 2021

Researchers have demonstrated that an ultracold neutral plasma can be magnetically confined, paving the way toward experiments that simulate its hot astrophysical counterparts.

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Authors & Affiliations

G. M. Gorman, M. K. Warrens, S. J. Bradshaw, and T. C. Killian*

  • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA

  • *Corresponding author. killian@rice.edu

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Issue

Vol. 126, Iss. 8 — 26 February 2021

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