Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters irradiated by an ultrashort intense laser pulse

Journal Article · Tue Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.74.023201· OSTI ID:20853083

Hongyu, Li; Jiansheng, Liu; Cheng, Wang; Guoquan, Ni; Ruxin, Li; Zhizhan, Xu ^[1]

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1. State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 800-211, Shanghai 201800 (China)

The explosion dynamics of hydrogen clusters driven by an ultrashort intense laser pulse has been analyzed analytically and numerically by employing a simplified Coulomb explosion model. The dependence of average and maximum proton kinetic energy on cluster size, pulse duration, and laser intensity has been investigated respectively. The existence of an optimum cluster size allows the proton energy to reach the maximum when the cluster size matches with the intensity and the duration of the laser pulse. In order to explain our experimental results such as the measured proton energy spectrum and the saturation effect of proton energy, the effects of cluster size distribution as well as the laser intensity distribution on the focus spot should be considered. A good agreement between them is obtained.

• OSTI ID: 20853083
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 74; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMIC CLUSTERS
COULOMB EXCITATION
DISSOCIATION
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY SPECTRA
HYDROGEN
IRRADIATION
KINETIC ENERGY
LASER RADIATION
PHOTON-MOLECULE COLLISIONS
PROTONS
PULSES