Charge, density and electron temperature in a molecular ultracold plasma

TL;DR

This paper investigates the charge, density, and electron temperature in a molecular ultracold plasma formed from a Rydberg gas of NO, using experimental signals and a thermochemical model to understand plasma evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a simple thermochemical model that explains the evolution of ultracold plasma properties from a Rydberg gas of NO.

Findings

Measured plasma charge using electric field pulses

Supported the thermochemical model with experimental data

Described plasma evolution to ultracold electron temperature

Abstract

A Rydberg gas of NO entrained in a supersonic molecular beam releases electrons as it evolves to form an ultracold plasma. The size of this signal, compared with that extracted by the subsequent application of a pulsed electric field, determines the absolute magnitude of the plasma charge. This information, combined with the number density of ions, supports a simple thermochemical model that explains the evolution of the plasma to an ultracold electron temperature.