Coulomb explosion of simple metal clusters in intense laser fields

Journal Article · Mon May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20787191

Belkacem, M; Megi, F ^[1]; Reinhard, P -G; Zwicknagel, G ^[2]; Suraud, E ^[1]

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1. Laboratoire de Physique Theorique, Universite P. Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse cedex (France)
2. Institut fuer Theoretische Physik, Universitaet Erlangen, Staudtstrasse 7, D-91058 Erlangen (Germany)

We present a molecular dynamics model giving a classical description of valence and core electrons in Na clusters irradiated by intense laser pulses. Both core electrons and valence electrons are treated at the same level as classical Coulomb interacting particles. A minimum of quantum information is embodied by giving to each electron a finite width adjusted to the energies and radii of the related atomic shells. This model provides a surprisingly stable cluster ground state and a fair description of optical linear response. We focus on electron emission under laser irradiation in the intermediate and high-intensity regime. With increasing laser intensity, we observe a clear threshold for core ionization at a critical intensity of 10{sup 16} W/cm{sup 2}. Excitation at the critical intensity produces a fragmentation of the cluster into single ions with an average charge state of +2 and a kinetic energy distribution, which clearly indicates a Coulomb explosion.

• OSTI ID: 20787191
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 73; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMIC CLUSTERS
CHARGE STATES
DISSOCIATION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRON EMISSION
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELECTRONS
EXCITATION
GROUND STATES
IONIZATION
IRRADIATION
KINETIC ENERGY
LASER RADIATION
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD
PHOTON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
PULSES
QUANTUM INFORMATION
SODIUM
SODIUM IONS
VALENCE