Laser-induced-fluorescence imaging of a spin-polarized ultracold neutral plasma in a magnetic field

In this work, we report Doppler-sensitive laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) imaging of an ultracold neutral plasma in a magnetic field. Local values of ion density, hydrodynamic fluid velocity, temperature, and spin polarization are obtained using a fluorescence model based on velocity-resolved rate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. A 2022-01, Vol.105 (1), Article 013108
Main Authors: Gorman, G. M., Warrens, M. K., Bradshaw, S. J., Killian, T. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Fluorescence spectroscopy
Low-temperature plasma
Magnetized plasma
Molecular dynamics
Optics
Physics
Strongly-coupled plasmas
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Summary:In this work, we report Doppler-sensitive laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) imaging of an ultracold neutral plasma in a magnetic field. Local values of ion density, hydrodynamic fluid velocity, temperature, and spin polarization are obtained using a fluorescence model based on velocity-resolved rate equations (REs) including the transfer of ions between states due to laser coupling and spontaneous emission. The RE approach captures optical pumping of ions into states that are not driven by the LIF excitation laser, and this is validated with experimental data. Combined molecular-dynamics and quantum-trajectories simulations verify that velocity-changing collisions have a negligible impact on the state population evolution for typical experimental conditions. Relative intensities of Zeeman components of the LIF spectra provide clear evidence that the ions are electron-spin-polarized when created by photoionization of magnetically trapped 88Sr atoms. This probe opens many possibilities for studying thermal transport and the equilibration of neutral plasmas in overlapping regimes of strong coupling and magnetization.
ISSN:2469-9926
2469-9934
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevA.105.013108