Measuring Rydberg Atoms Through RF Heating In Ultracold Plasmas

Radiofrequency (RF) fields can be used to heat electrons in ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs) through electron-ion collisions. These fields can also be used to ionize weakly bound Rydberg atoms. We discuss the use of these fields to measure the Rydberg atom populations in UNPs as a function of initial electron temperautre and electron magnetization.