2003/10/16 by Ulf Saalmann, Jan-Michael Rost
Physics and Astronomy · #physics.atm-clus
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.91.223401
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 223401 (2003) · 4 pages (4 figures)
arxiv created 2003/10/16 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
The motion of electrons and ions in medium-sized rare gas clusters (1000 atoms) exposed to intense laser pulses is studied microscopically by means of classical molecular dynamics using a hierarchical tree code. Pulse parameters for optimum ionization are found to be wavelength dependent. This resonant behavior is traced back to a collective electron oscillation inside the charged cluster. It is shown that this dynamics can be well described by a driven and damped harmonic oscillator allowing for a clear discrimination against other energy absorption mechanisms.