Creating and studying ion acoustic waves in ultracold neutral plasmas

Journal Article · Tue May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3694654· OSTI ID:22072368

Killian, T C; Castro, J ^[1]; McQuillen, P; O'Neil, T M ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005 (United States)
2. Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)

We excite ion acoustic waves in ultracold neutral plasmas by imprinting density modulations during plasma creation. Laser-induced fluorescence is used to observe the density and velocity perturbations created by the waves. The effect of expansion of the plasma on the evolution of the wave amplitude is described by treating the wave action as an adiabatic invariant. After accounting for this effect, we determine that the waves are weakly damped, but the damping is significantly faster than expected for Landau damping.

• OSTI ID: 22072368
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 19; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AMPLITUDES
DISTURBANCES
FLUORESCENCE
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
LANDAU DAMPING
LASERS
MODULATION
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA EXPANSION