Killian, Thomas C.2018-12-032018-12-032007Laha, Sampad. "Ion dynamics in strongly coupled plasmas." (2007) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103656">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103656</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103656A study of ion dynamics in strongly coupled ultracold neutral plasma (UCNP) is presented here. Plasma is created by photo-ionizing laser-cooled Sr atoms. Immediately after photo-ionization, the correlation between the ion and the electron temperature and density dictate the evolution of the plasma. By extracting the ion's total energy and temperature, and studying their variation with position and time we can get information about the dynamics of the plasma. To do this we use absorption imaging, and for the first time in UCNP, fluorescence imaging and spectroscopic diagnostics, the results of which are presented in this thesis. Using the imaging techniques, we can also study the size change of the plasma with time, which is described by all exact solution of the Vlasov equations for appropriate initial conditions. Also, using fluorescence imaging and spatially resolved spectroscopy, we are able to separate the thermal temperature of ions from the kinetic energy due to expansion and show that the temperature of ions decreases at later times due to adiabatic cooling.139 ppengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.Atoms & subatomic particlesOpticsFluid dynamicsGasesPure sciencesAdiabatic coolingCoupled plasmasUltracold neutral plasmasThesis304817196THESIS PHYS. 2008 LAHA