Coulomb explosion of a cluster with a complex ion composition

The problem of the Coulomb explosion of a homogeneous cluster with light and heavy ions has been analytically solved. The space-time and spectral distributions of accelerated ions have been obtained. The characteristics of scattered light ions are determined as functions of the atomic composition of the cluster. It has been shown that sources of monoenergetic ions can be created using the interaction of high-power ultrashort laser pulses with molecular clusters.     

Tabletop nucleosynthesis driven by cluster Coulomb explosion

Coulomb explosion of completely ionized (CH4)n, (NH3)n, and (H2O)n clusters will drive tabletop nuclear reactions of protons with 12C6+, 14N7+, and 16O8+ nuclei, extending the realm of nuclear reactions driven by ultraintense laser-heterocluster interaction. The realization for nucleosynthesis in exploding cluster beams requires complete electron stripping from the clusters (at laser intensities I(M) > or = 10(19) W cm(-2)), the utilization of nanodroplets of radius 300-700 A for vertical ionization, and the attainment of the highest energies for the nuclei (i.e., approximately 30 MeV for heavy nuclei and approximately 3 MeV for protons).     

Kinetic description of the Coulomb explosion of a spherically symmetric cluster

The particle distribution function is calculated for the Coulomb explosion of a spherically symmetric charged cluster formed through the interaction of intense ultrashort laser pulses with a cluster gas. The particle density and mean velocity distributions as well as the energy spectra of the accelerated particles are obtained. These characteristics are analyzed in detail for a cold cluster plasma, where the kinetic effects determine the physics of multiple flows emerging after the turnover of the cluster particle velocity profile. We find the boundaries of the multiple-flow regions and study the characteristics of an exploding cluster as a function of its initial density profile. The energy spectra of the accelerated ions are obtained for a cluster plasma with a specified cluster size distribution.     

Size dependence of the maximum energy of protons from Coulomb explosion of methane clusters under intense femtosecond laser irradiation

An investigation of the cluster size dependence of the maximum energy of protons ejected from explosion of methane clusters in an intense femtosecond laser field has been conducted on the basis of the cluster size estimation by Rayleigh scattering measurements. The interaction of a 2 × 1016-W/cm2 intense laser pulse (790 nm, 60 fs) with the methane clusters revealed that the clusters were Coulomb exploded and the maximum energy (Emax) of the protons produced was linearly proportional to the square of the cluster radius (r2c). In a cluster size range, with the methane cluster radii up to about 3 nm, the established relation of Emax and rc2 was found to be Emax (keV) = 3.3 + 0.75r2c (nm2), in good agreement with the simulation results. This demonstrated that Coulomb explosion of ionic clusters (C+4H4+)n took place following the cluster vertical ionization in the laser-cluster interaction.     

Coulomb explosion of CS_2 molecule under an intense femtosecond laser field

We experimentally demonstrate the Coulomb explosion process of CS_2 molecule under a near-infrared(800 nm)intense femtosecond laser field by a DC-sliced ion imaging technique. We obtain the DC-sliced images of these fragment ions S~+, S~(2+), CS~+, and CS~(2+)by breaking one C–S bond, and assign their Coulomb explosion channels by considering their kinetic energy release and angular distribution. We also numerically simulate the dissociation dynamics of parent ions CS_2~(k+)(k = 2–4) by a Coulomb potential approximation, and obtain the time evolution of Coulomb energy and kinetic energy release, which indicates that the dissociation time of parent ions CS_2~(k+) decreases with the increase of the charge number k.These experimental and theoretical results can serve as a useful benchmark for those researchers who work in the related area.     

Ultrafast Coulomb explosion imaging of molecules

Multiple ionization of small molecules leads to multifragmentation called Coulomb explosion. The atomic positions prior to the fragmentation event are determined from the multicharged fragments trajectories. Following the pioneering contribution of Prof. N.B. Delone on atomic ionization using strong laser fields, intense femtosecond laser pulses in the 10¹⁵ W cm^?2 range permit an efficient removal of valence electrons. Pulse durations have to be reduced to a few cycles in order to avoid any significant molecular stretching during multiple ionization. Pumpprobe excitation schemes offer promising perspectives for straightforward ultrafast Coulomb explosion imaging of excited and ionized molecular species.     

The Coulomb explosion of charged drops

In the framework of the density functional theory using a simple variational model we have calculated the first-order size corrections to electro-physical characteristics of small metal particles. We have discovered that the curvature correction to the surface energy is of positive sign. We have shown that it is possible to use macroscopic electrodynamics in calculations of the ionization potential and the electron affinity. We have determined the maximum charge which can be retained by a particle of a given size.     

Energetic ion generation by Coulomb explosion in cluster gas and a low-density plastic foam with an intense femtosecond laser

The energy distributions of protons emitted from the Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters by an intense femtosecond laser have been experimentally obtained. Ten thousand hydrogen clusters were exploded, emitting 8.1-keV protons under laser irradiation of intensity 6 × 10¹⁶W/cm². The energy distributions are interpreted well by a spherical uniform cluster analytical model. The maximum energy of the emitted protons can be characterized by cluster size and laser intensity. The laser intensity scale for the maximum proton energy, given by a spherical cluster Coulomb explosion model, is in fairly good agreement with the experimental results obtained at a laser intensity of 10¹⁶–10¹⁷ W/cm² and also when extrapolated with the results of three-dimensional particle simulations at 10²⁰–10²¹ W/cm². Energetic proton generation in low-density plastic (C₅H₁₀) foam by intense femtosecond laser pulse irradiation has been studied experimentally and numerically. Plastic foam was successfully produced by a sol-gel method, achieving an average density of 10 mg/cm³. The foam target was irradiated by 100-fs pulses of a laser with intensity 1 × 10¹⁸ W/cm². A plateau structure extending up to 200 keV was observed in the energy distribution of protons generated from the foam target, with the plateau shape explained well by Coulomb explosion of lamella in the foam. The laser-foam interaction and ion generation were studied qualitatively by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, which indicated that energetic protons are mainly generated by the Coulomb explosion. From the results, the efficiency of energetic ion generation in a low-density foam target by Coulomb explosion is expected to be higher than in a gas-cluster target.     

Field-induced ionization and Coulomb explosion of nitrogen

Femtosecond-laser field-induced ionization and Coulomb explosion of diatomic nitrogen were systematically investigated using time-of-flight mass and photoelectron spectrometry. Both linearly and circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulses were used at intensities varying from 5×10¹³ to 2×10¹⁵ W/cm². Strong N₂ ⁺, N₂ ²⁺, N⁺, N²⁺ and N³⁺ ion signals were observed for horizontally polarized pulses. Moreover, signals from the atomic ions exhibited a double-peak structure. Suppression of ionization was observed for circularly polarized pulses, while for vertically polarized pulses, only N₂ ⁺ and N₂ ²⁺ ions were observed. The angular distributions of the ions were measured under zero-field conditions in the ionization zone. The atomic ions N⁺, N²⁺ and N³⁺ exhibited highly anisotropic distributions, with maxima along the laser polarization vector and zeroes normal to the laser polarization vector. In contrast to the atomic ions, N₂ ⁺ exhibited a strong isotropic angular distribution. These observations indicate that dynamic alignment is responsible for the observed anisotropic angular distribution of the atomic ions. The kinetic energy spectrum of the photoelectrons is featureless and broad, extending above the ponderomotive potential of the laser pulse. The angular distribution is markedly anisotropic, with a maximum along the laser polarization vector. These observations further support the notion that the field-ionization mechanism is dominant under our experimental conditions. Received: 29 January 2002 / Revised version: 15 March 2002 / Published online: 12 July 2002     

Coulomb explosion of the hot spot of micropinches

It has been shown that the generation of hard X-ray radiation, electron beam, and high energy ions that have been detected in experiments on compressing pinches can be related to the Coulomb explosion of a micropinch hot spot, which is formed due to the outflow of the material. In the outflow process, the plasma temperature in the hot spot increases and conditions appear for the transition of electrons to the regime of continuous acceleration. The exit of runaway electrons from the hot spot region leads to the creation of a positive bulk charge, then to a Coulomb explosion. Conditions under which electrons pass to the continuous acceleration regime have been determined and estimates of the ion kinetic energy upon a Coulomb explosion have been obtained.     

Simulation results of the Coulomb explosion of metal

By the example of a plasma layer, the problem of the Coulomb explosion of metal during exposure to a powerful picosecond laser pulse was numerically simulated. It was shown that plasma electrons leave the plasma layer under the ponderomotive force in the direction against the gradient of the laser radiation field, while ions fly apart in the field of the self-charge.     

Observation of doubly charged lead clusters below the critical size limit for Coulomb explosion of sphere configurations

Doubly charged lead clusters Pb₇²⁺, Pb₉²⁺, Pb₁₁²⁺ and Pb₁₃²⁺, far below the critical size for Coulomb explosion of par ticles with sphere like configurations (Pb₃₀) have been detected in time of flight mass spectra. Their existence can be explained by chain-like clusters.     

Ultrafast nuclear dynamics and non-uniform Coulomb explosion of heteroclusters

This paper reports on some unique features of the ion spatial distribution, energetics and time-resolved dynamics in Coulomb explosion of multicharged light-heavy heteroclusters, consisting of light, low-charge and heavy, high-charge, ions, e.g. hydroiodic acid [image omitted] and its isotopic substituents [image omitted] and [image omitted]. In these clusters, extreme multielectron ionization in ultraintense laser fields (peak intensity I = 1015 - 1020 W cm-2) results in highly charged heavy ions, e.g. qI ? 7 at I = 6×1015 W cm-2 and qI = 25 at I = 1019 W cm-2. Molecular dynamics simulations based on the cluster vertical ionization (CVI) initial conditions, together with complete simulations involving both electron and nuclear dynamics of heteroclusters subjected to a Gaussian laser pulse, which were conducted for Coulomb explosion of [image omitted] and [image omitted] ionic clusters, reveal expanding, thin, two-dimensional spherical shells of the light D+ or H+ ions, with the monolayer expansion occurring on the femtosecond time scale. The expanding spherical nanoshells of light ions are analogous to a 'soap bubble', characterized by negative surface tension and driven by Coulomb pressure. The energetic data for the light ions reveal high energies with a narrow energy distribution, characterized by a lower energy cut-off, e.g. average energy Eav = 23 keV at width ΔE/Eav = 0.16, and a cut-off energy of EMIN = 19.2 keV for Coulomb explosion of [image omitted] clusters. These dynamic, structural and energetic data for exploding multicharged light-heavy heteroclusters arise from kinematic overrun effects of the light ions.     

Ultrafast Coulomb explosion imaging of molecules and molecular clusters

Taking an image of their structure and a movie of their dynamics of small quantum systems have always been a dream of physicists and chemists. Laser-induced Coulomb explosion imaging (CEI) provides a great opportunity to make this dream a reality for small molecules or their aggregation —— clusters. The method is unique for identifying the atomic locations with ångstrom spatial resolution and capturing the structural evolution with a femtosecond time scale, in particular for imaging transient state products. This review summarizes the determination of three-dimensional equilibrium geometry of molecules and molecular cluster system through the reconstruction from the fragments momenta, and also shows that the dissociation dynamics on the complex potential energy surface can be tracked in real-time with the ultrafast CEI (UCEI). Furthermore, the detailed measurement and analysis procedures of the CEI, theoretical methods, exemplary results, and future perspectives of the technique are described.     

Dynamics of Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters in a high-intensity femtosecond laser pulse

Using Bethe model, the dynamics of the ionization and Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters (0.5-5nm) in high-intensity (1015-1017 W/cm2) femtosecond laser pulses have been studied theoretically, and the dependence of energy of protons emitted from exploding clusters on cluster size and laser intensity has been investigated. It is found that the maximum proton energy increases exponentially with the cluster size, and the exponent is mainly determined by the laser intensity. For a given cluster size, the maximum proton energy increases with increasing laser intensity and gets saturation gradually. The calculation results are in agreement with the recent experimental observation.     

Coulomb explosion of nanoclusters that glide along organic surfaces

A model of the Coulomb multiple dissociation (Coulomb explosion) of a nanocluster that glides at an atomic distance along an organic film at a velocity that is lower than the Bohr velocity is proposed. Nanoclusters that consist of identical atoms and films, whose molecules contain substructures of periodic diatomic valence bonds, (for example, CnH_2n ) that have a significant dipole moment are considered. These structures can serve as antennas for IR radiation. It is shown that the dissociation process of a gliding nanocluster is induced by a picosecond pulse of highly intense photons (10¹⁴–10¹⁶ W/cm²) that are radiated by IR antennas of the film as a result of the relaxation of collective vibrating excitations that are accumulated in the antenna (excimoles). These excimoles resonantly exit from the IR antennas of the film as a result of the action of the periodic Coulomb field, which appears during the gliding of a nanocluster with respect to the film molecules at a rate below the Bohr velocity. In the framework of the proposed model, the experimental results on the decay of C ₆₀ ⁺ ions as they glide along an organic film that contains molecules with IR antennas are analyzed.     

高背压超声气体团簇喷流中团簇平均尺寸沿喷流方向演化研究

本文通过对高背压(50 bar, 1 bar = 1.0×10⁵ Pa)氩气经长锥型喷嘴(长度L=30 mm)向真空绝热膨胀所形成的超声气体团簇喷流的数值模拟, 分析比较了由喷嘴喉口起沿喷流方向在喷流中心轴线上团簇平均尺寸的演化情况. 结果表明: 沿喷流方向团簇平均尺寸显示先增长后趋于饱和的变化趋势, 具有较大尺寸团簇的区域出现在距离喷嘴喉口大约20 mm. 据此本文再结合关于喷流中原子密度沿喷流方向变化的模拟结果开展了锥形喷嘴长度的优化研究. 针对由常见构型的锥形喷嘴(喉径～ 0.5 mm, 半张角～ 8.5°)在高背压下形成的团簇喷流, 20 mm左右的长度为锥形喷嘴的适宜长度.     

The dissociative ionization and Coulomb explosion of ethane by a femtosecond laser field

Femtosecond laser-induced dissociation and Coulomb explosion of polyatomic molecule C_2H_6 were systematically investigated using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and a chirped pulse amplifier laser. With the laser intensity varying from 2.4×10^{15}W/cm^{2} to 1.2×10^{16}W/cm^2, strong molecular ions C_2H_n^+ (n=0－6) and atomic ions C^{m+} (m=1－3) signals were observed. The double-peak structure of atomic ions indicated the occurrence of Coulomb explosion. Compared with the nearly isotropic distribution of C^{+}, highly charged ions C^{m+} (m=2－3) exhibited a sharply anisotropic angular distribution, which was attributed to the geometric alignment.     

Coulomb explosion patterns of fast C60 clusters in solids

The molecular dynamics method is used to simulate Coulomb explosion of fast C60 ion clusters in an Al target, taking into account dynamical screening of interionic interactions by the electron gas of the target. It is found that the wake forces in the medium are strong enough, depending on cluster speed, to stabilize the whole cluster against Coulomb explosion, or to compress the trailing part of the cluster, for prolonged times of penetration through the target. This is encouraging news for such cluster-ion beams applications where massive energy depositions in small volumes of targets are desired.