Ionization and Expansion Dynamics of Atomic Clusters Irradiated with Short Intense VUV Pulses

Journal Article · Thu Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3241180· OSTI ID:21344604

Ziaja, B ^[1]; Wang, F; Wabnitz, H; Weckert, E ^[1]; Moeller, T ^[2]

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1. Hamburger Synchrotronstrahlungslabor, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestrasse 85, D-22603 Hamburg (Germany)
2. Technische Universitaet Berlin, Institut fuer Atomare Physik und Fachdidaktik, 10623 Berlin, Hardenbergstrasse 36 (Germany)

Kinetic Boltzmann equations are used to model the ionization and expansion dynamics of xenon clusters irradiated with short intense VUV pulses. This unified model includes predominant interactions that contribute to the cluster dynamics induced by this radiation. The dependence of the evolution dynamics on cluster size, N{sub atoms} = 20-90000, and pulse fluence, F = 0.05-1.5 J/cm{sup 2}, corresponding to intensities in the range, 10{sup 12}-10{sup 14} W/cm{sup 2} and irradiation times, <=50 fs, is investigated. The predictions obtained with our model are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. We find that during the exposure the cluster forms a shell structure consisting of a positively charged outer shell and a core of net charge equal to zero. The width of these shells depends on the cluster size. The charged outer shell is large within small clusters (N{sub atoms} 20, 70), and its Coulomb explosion drives the expansion of these clusters. Within the large clusters (N{sub atoms} = 2500, 90000) the neutral core is large, and after the Coulomb explosion of the outer shell it expands hydrodynamically. Highly charged ions within the core recombine efficiently with electrons. As a result, we observe a large fraction of neutral atoms created within the core, its magnitude depending on the cluster size. To our knowledge, our model is the first and only one that gives a full and quantitatively accurate description of all of the experimental data collected from irradiated atomic clusters at 100 nm photon wavelength.

• OSTI ID: 21344604
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1161; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOMIC CLUSTERS
ATOMS
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
BOSONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
COULOMB EXCITATION
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EQUATIONS
EXCITATION
FAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
GASES
INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
IONIZATION
IONS
IRRADIATION
KINETIC EQUATIONS
LASERS
LEPTONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MULTICHARGED IONS
NONMETALS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PHOTON COLLISIONS
PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS
PHOTONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PULSED IRRADIATION
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
XENON