Abstract
We create a dual-species ultracold neutral plasma (UNP) by photo-ionizing Yb and Ca atoms in a dual-species magneto-optical trap. Unlike single-species UNP expansion, these plasmas are well outside of the collisionless (Vlasov) approximation. We observe the mutual interaction of the Yb and Ca ions by measuring the velocity distribution for each ion species separately. We model the expansion using a fluid code including ion-ion friction and compare with experimental results to obtain a value of the Coulomb logarithm of Λ= 0.04.
Degree
MS
College and Department
Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy
Rights
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Sprenkle, Robert Tucker, "Ion Friction at Small Values of the Coulomb Logarithm" (2018). Theses and Dissertations. 6979.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6979
Date Submitted
2018-07-01
Document Type
Thesis
Handle
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd10284
Keywords
dual-species MOT, calcium, ytterbium, strongly coupled plasma, PIC, particle in cell, Vlasov, plasma expansion, Coulomb logarithm
Language
english