Coulomb explosion of a cluster irradiated by a high intensity laser pulse

Clusters represent a new class of laser pulse targets which show both the p roperties of underdense and of overdense plasmas. We present analytical and numerical results (based on 2D- and 3D-PIC simulations) of the Coulomb exp losion of the ion cloud that is formed when a cluster is irradiated by a hi gh-intensity laser pulse. For laser pulse intensities in the range of 10(21 )-10(22) W/cm(2), the laser light can rip electrons from atoms almost insta ntaneously and can create a cloud made of an electrically nonneutral plasma . Ions can then be accelerated up to high energy during the Coulomb explosi on of the cloud.