Magnetic Confinement of an Ultracold Neutral Plasma

Reply to "Comment on 'Ultracold plasma expansion in quadrupole magnetic field' "

In this Reply, we respond to the Comment by Schlitters et al. on our recent work [Phys. Rev. E 108, 045209 (2023)10.1103/PhysRevE.108.045209], where we present simulation results of ultracold Sr plasma expansion in a quadrupole magnetic field using a molecular-dynamics method. In the Comment, Schlitters et al. present their experimental results, some of which, from their point of view, contradict our simulation results and others that confirm the experiments of Gorman et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 085002 (2021)10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.085002] and our results. In addition, Schlitters et al. also provide results that were not described in our work. Here we show that there is not a contradiction but a misunderstanding of our results. This is due to the fact that simulations allow the use of processing methods that are difficult to obtain in experiment. We also present different simulation results related to expansion velocity variations that reflect the experimental results of Schlitters et al. and provide an explanation for the origin of these variations.

Comment on "Ultracold plasma expansion in quadrupole magnetic field"

Bronin et al. [Phys. Rev. E 108, 045209 (2023)2470-004510.1103/PhysRevE.108.045209] recently reported molecular-dynamics simulations of ultracold neutral plasmas expanding in a quadrupole magnetic field. While the main results are in agreement with prior experimental measurements, we present data showing oscillations not captured in the simulations of Bronin et al. Plasmas formed using pulsed or continuous-wave ionization processes have similar confinement times.

Steady-State Ultracold Plasma Created by Continuous Photoionization of Laser Cooled Atoms

In this Letter we discuss our approach that makes possible creation of the steady-state ultracold plasma having various densities and temperatures by means of continuous two-step optical excitation of calcium atoms in the magneto-optical trap. A strongly coupled ultracold plasma can be used as an excellent test platform for studying many-body interactions associated with various plasma phenomena. The parameters of the plasma are studied using laser-induced fluorescence of calcium ions. The experimental results are well described by a simple theoretical model involving equilibration of the continuous source of charged particles by the hydrodynamical ion outflux and three-body recombination. The ultracold plasma with the peak ion density of 2.7×10^{6}  cm^{-3} and the minimum electron temperature near 2 K has been prepared. Our steady-state approach in combination with the strong magnetic confinement of the plasma will make it possible to reach extremely strong coupling in such system.

Preliminary study of plasma modes and electron-ion collisions in partially magnetized strongly coupled plasmas

Magnetic fields influence ion transport in plasmas. Straightforward comparisons of experimental measurements with plasma theories are complicated when the plasma is inhomogeneous, far from equilibrium, or characterized by strong gradients. To better understand ion transport in a partially magnetized system, we study the hydrodynamic velocity and temperature evolution in an ultracold neutral plasma at intermediate values of the magnetic field. We observe a transverse, radial breathing mode that does not couple to the longitudinal velocity. The inhomogeneous density distribution gives rise to a shear velocity gradient that appears to be only weakly damped. This mode is excited by ion oscillations originating in the wings of the distribution where the plasma becomes non-neutral. The ion temperature shows evidence of an enhanced electron-ion collision rate in the presence of the magnetic field. Ultracold neutral plasmas provide a rich system for studying mode excitation and decay.

Ultracold plasma expansion in quadrupole magnetic field

We present simulation results of ultracold Sr plasma expansion in a quadrupole magnetic field by means of molecular dynamics. An analysis of plasma evolution influenced by a magnetic field is given. Plasma confinement time behavior under variation of magnetic field strength is estimated. Similarity of the time dependence of the concentration and distribution of ion velocities against the parameters of the plasma and magnetic field is established. Simulation results are in agreement with the experimental ones.

Engineered upconversion nanocarriers for synergistic breast cancer imaging and therapy: Current state of art

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Early diagnosis and effective therapeutic interventions are critical determinants that can improve survival and quality of life in breast cancer patients. Nanotheranostics are emerging interventions that offer the dual benefit of in vivo diagnosis and therapeutics through a single nano-sized carrier. Rare earth metal-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with their ability to convert near-infrared light to visible light or UV light in vivo settings have gained special attraction due to their unique luminescence and tumor-targeting properties. In this review, we have discussed applications of UCNPs in drug and gene delivery, photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and tumor targeting in breast cancer. Further, present challenges and future opportunities for UCNPs in breast cancer treatment have also been mentioned.

Impact of magnetic field on the parallel resistivity

The impact of magnetic field (MF) on the parallel resistivity η_{∥} is studied for strongly magnetized plasmas with the electron thermal gyroradius ρ_{the} smaller than the Debye length λ_{D} but much larger than the Landau length λ_{L}. Two previous papers [P. Ghendrih et al., Phys. Lett. A 119, 354 (1987)10.1016/0375-9601(87)90614-1; S. D. Baalrud and T. Lafleur, Phys. Plasmas 28, 102107 (2021)10.1063/5.0054113] found η_{∥} to increase monotonically with MF. Unfortunately, both works used predetermined electron distribution functions and are thus not self-consistent. In this paper, we analyze the MF dependence of η_{∥} self-consistently by solving the electron magnetized kinetic equation in a Lorentz gaslike approximation. It is found η_{∥} decreases monotonically with MF, with λ_{D} in the usual Coulomb logarithm lnΛ=ln(λ_{D}/λ_{L}) being replaced by ρ_{the}. The underlying physics is that the electrons affected only by the collisions with impact parameters between λ_{L} and ρ_{the} carry almost all the parallel current.

Ultracold neutral plasma expansion in a strong uniform magnetic field

In strongly magnetized neutral plasmas, electron motion is reduced perpendicular to the magnetic field direction. This changes dynamical plasma properties such as temperature equilibration, spatial density evolution, electron pressure, and thermal and electrical conductivity. In this paper we report measurements of free plasma expansion in the presence of a strong magnetic field. We image laser-induced fluorescence from an ultracold neutral Ca^{+} plasma to map the plasma size as a function of time for a range of magnetic field strengths. The asymptotic expansion velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field direction falls rapidly with increasing magnetic field strength. We observe that the initially Gaussian spatial distribution remains Gaussian throughout the expansion in both the parallel and perpendicular directions. We compare these observations with a diffusion model and with a self-similar expansion model and show that neither of these models reproduces the observed behavior over the entire range of magnetic fields used in this study. Modeling the expansion of a magnetized ultracold plasma poses a nontrivial theoretical challenge.