2025/11/15 by Vorobiov, Mykhailo, Behary, Rob, Torg, Will +9
#Applied Physics (physics.app-ph) #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Optics (physics.optics) #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph) #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2511.12322
We introduce an all-optical quantum-enhanced diagnostic for electric fields in low-temperature plasmas. Trace amounts of rubidium vapor, added to argon plasma, allow us to produce spectrally narrow electric field-sensitive optical resonances via quantum optical effect of Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency, and to non-invasively measure electric field in plasma with sensitivity exceeding 1 V/cm. By collecting fluorescence from the illuminated region of interest, we reconstruct a 2D spatial profile of the electric field magnitude with 30~μm resolution. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we measured the changes in electric field within the plasma sheath surrounding a biased Langmuir probe tip. This method holds significant potential for studying sheath structures in low-temperature plasmas.