Direct imaging of plasma waves using ultrafast electron microscopy
Abstract
A femtosecond plasma imaging modality based on a new development of ultrafast electron microscope is introduced. We investigated the laser-induced formation of high-temperature electron microplasmas and their subsequent non-equilibrium evolution. Based on a straightforward field imaging principle, we directly retrieve detailed information about the plasma dynamics, including plasma wave structures, particle densities, and temperatures. We discover that directly subjected to a strong magnetic field, the photo-generated microplasmas manifest in novel transient cyclotron echoes and form new wave states across a broad range of field strengths and different laser fluences. Intriguingly, the transient cyclotron waves morph into a higher frequency upper-hybrid wave mode with the dephasing of local cyclotron dynamics. The quantitative real-space characterizations of the non-equilibrium plasma systems demonstrate the feasibilities of a new microscope system in studying the plasma dynamics or transient electric fields with high spatiotemporal resolutions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1063/4.0000044
Entities
People
- Chong-Yu Ruan
- Daniel Bartles
- Elliot Wozniak
- Joseph Williams
- Peng Zhang
- Shuaishuai Sun
- Xiaoyi Sun
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Michigan State University
- National Science Foundation
- United States Department of Energy