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.