Relative Rydberg Atom Formation Rates as a Function of Electron Magnetization in Ultracold Neutral Plasmas

Rydberg atom formation via three-body recombination in ultracold neutral plasmas is interesting both because the main limitation on the coldest achievable electron temperatures comes from three-body recombination heating and simulating Rydberg formation numerically has challenges such that experimental tests are useful in evaluating theoretical predictions. Different plasma systems such as those associated with antihydrogen formation are strongly impacted by three-body recombination, too. Recombination rates are predicted to decrease substantially as a function of magnetic field in the plasma. Ultracold neutral plasma electrons can become extremely magnetized at comparatively low laboratory magnetic fields and so are excellent systems to conduct studies of magnetization effects on Rydberg atom formation rates. We describe our techniques for measuring these rates experimentally along with explorations of a new method for calibrating the strength of electric fields in the region where the ultracold neutral plasmas are formed in our apparatus.