Interaction of argon clusters with intense VUV-laser radiation: the role of electronic structure in the energy-deposition process

Singly Resonant Multiphoton Processes Involving Autoionizing States in the Be-like CIII Ion

In this paper, we investigate the applicability of different theories on the intensity-dependent ionization rate for C2+ atomic targets at different laser wavelengths (frequency) and at linear polarization. We use the analytical formulas and draw conclusions, from numerical comparison with the results from ab initio ‘two-state model’ R-matrix Floquet calculation, on their correct predictions of the ionization rate. The single-photon ionization has been studied in the vicinity of the 1s2 (2Po)2pns (1Po), n = 5–12 autoionizing resonances at non-perturbative laser intensity. The results obtained from Perelomov–Popov–Terent’ev and Ammosov–Delone–Krainov models are compared in a region away from resonance where the two-state model description is not as good. To quantify the deviation between theoretical models, we analyze the ratio between different data sets as functions of the Keldysh parameter. We conclude that the results obtained with the model of Perelemov–Popov–Terent’ev are the closest to the ab initio R-matrix Floquet calculation.

Collective autoionization in multiply-excited systems: a novel ionization process observed in helium nanodroplets

Free electron lasers (FELs) offer the unprecedented capability to study reaction dynamics and image the structure of complex systems. When multiple photons are absorbed in complex systems, a plasma-like state is formed where many atoms are ionized on a femtosecond timescale. If multiphoton absorption is resonantly-enhanced, the system becomes electronically-excited prior to plasma formation, with subsequent decay paths which have been scarcely investigated to date. Here, we show using helium nanodroplets as an example that these systems can decay by a new type of process, named collective autoionization. In addition, we show that this process is surprisingly efficient, leading to ion abundances much greater than that of direct single-photon ionization. This novel collective ionization process is expected to be important in many other complex systems, e.g. macromolecules and nanoparticles, exposed to high intensity radiation fields.

Thermoelastic analysis of a silicon surface under x-ray free-electron-laser irradiation

We present an analysis of the time evolution of a highly excited silicon substrate after partial absorption of a femtosecond soft x-ray pulse. The detailed time-dependent thermoelastic behavior of the substrate in terms of the displacements u(r,t) is derived for time delays for which the usual local thermodynamic variables, temperature T(r,t) and density n(r,t), become well-defined, namely, a few hundred femtoseconds after x-ray pulse absorption. For practical optical components under present conditions of operation with trains of pulses, we find that in a worst case scenario, already the 50th pulse in the train could be adversely affected by dynamic distortion induced by the preceding pulses [corrected]

Energetics, ionization, and expansion dynamics of atomic clusters irradiated with short intense vacuum-ultraviolet pulses

Kinetic equations are used to model the dynamics of Xe clusters irradiated with short, intense vacuum-ultraviolet pulses. Various cluster size and pulse fluences are considered. It is found that the highly charged ions observed in the experiments are mainly due to Coulomb explosion of the outer cluster shell. Ions within the cluster core predominantly recombine with plasma electrons, forming a large fraction of neutral atoms. To our knowledge, our model is the first and only one that gives an accurate description of all of the experimental data collected from atomic clusters at 100 nm photon wavelength.

Explosion of xenon clusters driven by intense femtosecond pulses of extreme ultraviolet light

The explosions of large xenon clusters irradiated by intense, femtosecond extreme ultraviolet pulses at a wavelength of 38 nm have been studied. Using high harmonic generation from a 35 fs laser, clusters have been irradiated by extreme ultraviolet pulses at intensity approaching 10;{11} W/cm;{2}. Charge states up to Xe8+ are observed, states well above those produced by single atom illumination, indicating that plasma continuum lowering is important. Furthermore, the kinetic energy distribution of the exploding ions is consistent with a quasineutral hydrodynamic expansion, rather than a Coulomb explosion.

Strong field ionization rate for arbitrary laser frequencies

A simple, analytical, nonrelativistic ionization rate formula for atoms and positive ions in intense ultraviolet and x-ray electromagnetic fields is derived. The rate is valid at arbitrary values of the Keldysh parameter and confirmed by results from ab initio numerical solutions of the single active electron, time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The proposed rate is particularly relevant for experiments employing the new free electron laser sources.

Extreme ionization of Xe clusters driven by ultraintense laser fields

We applied theoretical models and molecular dynamics simulations to explore extreme multielectron ionization in Xe(n) clusters (n=2-2171, initial cluster radius R(0)=2.16-31.0 A) driven by ultraintense infrared Gaussian laser fields (peak intensity I(M)=10(15)-10(20) W cm(-2), temporal pulse length tau=10-100 fs, and frequency nu=0.35 fs(-1)). Cluster compound ionization was described by three processes of inner ionization, nanoplasma formation, and outer ionization. Inner ionization gives rise to high ionization levels (with the formation of [Xe(q+)](n) with q=2-36), which are amenable to experimental observation. The cluster size and laser intensity dependence of the inner ionization levels are induced by a superposition of barrier suppression ionization (BSI) and electron impact ionization (EII). The BSI was induced by a composite field involving the laser field and an inner field of the ions and electrons, which manifests ignition enhancement and screening retardation effects. EII was treated using experimental cross sections, with a proper account of sequential impact ionization. At the highest intensities (I(M)=10(18)-10(20) W cm(-2)) inner ionization is dominated by BSI. At lower intensities (I(M)=10(15)-10(16) W cm(-2)), where the nanoplasma is persistent, the EII contribution to the inner ionization yield is substantial. It increases with increasing the cluster size, exerts a marked effect on the increase of the [Xe(q+)](n) ionization level, is most pronounced in the cluster center, and manifests a marked increase with increasing the pulse length (i.e., becoming the dominant ionization channel (56%) for Xe(2171) at tau=100 fs). The EII yield and the ionization level enhancement decrease with increasing the laser intensity. The pulse length dependence of the EII yield at I(M)=10(15)-10(16) W cm(-2) establishes an ultraintense laser pulse length control mechanism of extreme ionization products.

Emission of thermally activated electrons from rare gas clusters irradiated with intense VUV light pulses from a free electron laser

The ionization dynamics of Ar and Xe clusters irradiated with intense vacuum ultraviolet light from a free-electron laser is investigated using photoelectron spectroscopy. Clusters comprising between 70 and 900 atoms were irradiated with femtosecond pulses at 95 nm wavelength (approximately 13 eV photon energy) and a peak intensity of approximately 4 x 10(12) W/cm2. A broad thermal distribution of emitted electrons from clusters with a maximum kinetic energy up to 30-40 eV is observed. The observation of relatively low-energy photoelectrons is in good agreement with calculations using a time-dependent Thomas-Fermi model and gives experimental evidence of an outer ionization process of the clusters, due to delayed thermoelectronic emission.