Non-invasive 2D spatial measurements of electric fields within a plasma sheath

We introduce an all-optical quantum-enhanced diagnostic for electric fields in low-temperature plasmas. Trace amounts of rubidium vapor, added to an argon plasma, allow us to employ spectrally narrow electric field-sensitive optical resonances via the quantum optical effect of Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency. This non-invasive technique enables measurements of electric fields in plasma with a 1 V/cm precision and a 1.5 V/cm lower detection limit. By collecting the fluorescence from the illuminated region of interest, we reconstruct a 2D spatial profile of the electric field magnitude with 56 μ m resolution. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we measured the changes in the 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.