The effect of the direct current electric field on the dynamics of the ultracold plasma

We created an ultracold plasma by photoionizing the laser-cooled and trapped rubidium atoms in a magneto-optical trap. In the externally applied direct current (DC) electric field environment, the electrons which escape from the potential well of the ultracold plasma were detected for different numbers of the ions and initial kinetic energies of the electrons. The results are in good agreement with the calculations, based on the Coulomb potential well model, indicating that the external DC field is an effective tool to adjust the depth of potential well of the plasma, and it is possible to create an ultracold plasma in a controlled manner.