Emergence of kinetic behavior in streaming ultracold neutral plasmas

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4918705· OSTI ID:22408375

McQuillen, P.; Castro, J.; Bradshaw, S. J.; Killian, T. C. ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005 (United States)

We create streaming ultracold neutral plasmas by tailoring the photoionizing laser beam that creates the plasma. By varying the electron temperature, we control the relative velocity of the streaming populations, and, in conjunction with variation of the plasma density, this controls the ion collisionality of the colliding streams. Laser-induced fluorescence is used to map the spatially resolved density and velocity distribution function for the ions. We identify the lack of local thermal equilibrium and distinct populations of interpenetrating, counter-streaming ions as signatures of kinetic behavior. Experimental data are compared with results from a one-dimensional, two-fluid numerical simulation.

• OSTI ID: 22408375
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 22; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COLD PLASMA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUORESCENCE
ION-ION COLLISIONS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLASMA DENSITY
STREAMS
THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM