| Ultracold plasmas are formed by photoionizing neutral atoms in a magneto-optical trap. The physical location of the ions is initially disordered and the ions move to minimize their electrical potential energy. Using a slightly detuned probe laser beam, we study this relaxation process (called "disorder-induced heating") in strongly and weakly coupled plasmas. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time is surprisingly weak. Recent measurements and calculations will be presented. |
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