Cluster explosion in an intense laser pulse: Thomas-Fermi model - art. no.013203

A refined three-dimensional version of the time-dependent Thomas-Fermi mode l is used to qualitatively study the explosion of rare-gas atomic clusters in an intense laser field. Clusters as large as 55 atoms are exposed to a s trong subpicosecond laser pulse. A stepwise character of the explosion is o bserved in which atomic shells are expelled sequentially. The role of ''hot " electron dynamics in the explosion process is also investigated via initi al temperature effects. Contrary to previous opinions it seems that the so- called hydrodynamic explosion scenario is important for most energetic ions coming from the outermost shells only.