457 research outputs found
Asymmetric emission of high energy electrons in the two-dimensional hydrodynamic expansion of large xenon clusters irradiated by intense laser fields
Energy spectra and angular distributions have been measured of electrons that
are emitted upon disassembly of following irradiation by intense
(10 W cm) laser pulses whose durations are varied over
the 100-2200 fs range. The cluster explosion dynamics occur in the hydrodynamic
regime. Electron emission is found to be unexpectedly asymmetric and exhibits a
resonance when the laser pulse duration is 1 ps. These results are
rationalized by extending the hydrodynamic model to also take into account the
force that the light field exerts on the polarization charge that is induced on
surface of the cluster. We show that the magnitude of this electrostrictive
force is comparable to those of Coulombic and the hydrodynamic forces, and it
exhibits resonance behavior. Contrary to earlier understanding, we find that
low-energy electrons are connected to the resonance in energy absorption by the
cluster. The high-energy electrons seem to be produced by a mechanism that is
not so strongly influenced by the resonance.Comment: 1 Revtex file, 8 figs. in eps forma
Characterization of doping levels in heteronuclear, gas-phase, van der Waals clusters and their energy absorption from an intense optical field
A simple mass spectrometric method has been developed to quantify dopant
levels in heteronuclear clusters in the gas phase. The method is demonstrated
with reference to quantification of the water content in supersonic beams of
water-doped argon clusters. Such doped clusters have assumed much importance in
the context of recently-reported doping-induced enhancement in the emission of
energetic charged particles and photons upon their interaction with intense
laser pulses. We have also measured the energy that a doped cluster absorbs
from the optical field; we find that energy absorption increases with
increasing level of doping. The oft-used linear model of energy absorption is
found to be quantitatively inadequate.Comment: To appear in Chemical Physics Letter
Explosions of water clusters in intense laser fields
Energetic, highly-charged oxygen ions, (), are copiously
produced upon laser field-induced disassembly of highly-charged water clusters,
and , 60, that are formed by seeding high-pressure
helium or argon with water vapor. clusters (n40000) formed under
similar experimental conditions are found undergo disassembly in the Coulomb
explosion regime, with the energies of ions showing a
dependence. Water clusters, which are argued to be considerably smaller in
size, should also disassemble in the same regime, but the energies of fragment
O ions are found to depend linearly on which, according to
prevailing wisdom, ought to be a signature of hydrodynamic expansion that is
expected of much larger clusters. The implication of these observations on our
understanding of the two cluster explosion regimes, Coulomb explosion and
hydrodynamic expansion, is discussed. Our results indicate that charge state
dependences of ion energy do not constitute an unambiguous experimental
signature of cluster explosion regime.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.
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Optimization of the neutron yield in fusion plasmas produced by Coulomb explosions of deuterium clusters irradiated by a petawatt laser
The kinetic energy of hot (multi-keV) ions from the laser-driven Coulomb explosion of deuterium clusters and the resulting fusion yield in plasmas formed from these exploding clusters has been investigated under a variety of conditions using the Texas Petawatt laser. An optimum laser intensity was found for producing neutrons in these cluster fusion plasmas with corresponding average ion energies of 14 keV. The substantial volume (1-10 mm(3)) of the laser-cluster interaction produced by the petawatt peak power laser pulse led to a fusion yield of 1.6x10(7) neutrons in a single shot with a 120 J, 170 fs laser pulse. Possible effects of prepulses are discussed. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.87.023106Glenn Focht Memorial FellowshipNNSA DE-FC52-08NA28512DOE Office of Basic Energy SciencesPhysic
An exact solution of the moving boundary problem for the expansion of a plasma cylinder in a magnetic field
An exact analytic solution has been obtained for a uniformly expanding,
neutral, infinitely conducting plasma cylinder in an external uniform and
constant magnetic field. The electrodynamical aspects related to the emission
and transformation of energy have been considered as well. The results obtained
can be used in analysing the recent experimental and simulation data.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur
Experimental Observation of Resonance Effects in Intensely Irradiated Atomic Clusters
We have resolved the expansion of intensely irradiated atomic clusters on a femtosecond time scale. These data show evidence for resonant heating, similar to resonance absorption, in spherical cluster plasmas
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Development Of Third Harmonic Generation As A Short Pulse Probe Of Shock Heated Material
We are studying high-pressure laser produced shock waves in silicon (100). To examine the material dynamics, we are performing pump-probe style experiments utilizing 600 ps and 40 fs laser pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. Two-dimensional interferometry reveals information about the shock breakout, while third harmonic light generated at the rear surface is used to infer the crystalline state of the material as a function of time. Sustained third harmonic generation (THG) during a similar to 100 kbar shock breakout indicate that the rear surface remains crystalline for at least 3 ns. However, a decrease in THG during a similar to 300 kbar shock breakout suggests a different behavior, which could include a change in crystalline structure.Mechanical Engineerin
Enhanced ionization in small rare gas clusters
A detailed theoretical investigation of rare gas atom clusters under intense
short laser pulses reveals that the mechanism of energy absorption is akin to
{\it enhanced ionization} first discovered for diatomic molecules. The
phenomenon is robust under changes of the atomic element (neon, argon, krypton,
xenon), the number of atoms in the cluster (16 to 30 atoms have been studied)
and the fluency of the laser pulse. In contrast to molecules it does not
dissappear for circular polarization. We develop an analytical model relating
the pulse length for maximum ionization to characteristic parameters of the
cluster
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Single-shot optical conductivity measurement of dense aluminum plasmas
The optical conductivity of a dense femtosecond laser-heated aluminum plasma heated to 0.1-1.5 eV was measured using frequency-domain interferometry with chirped pulses, permitting simultaneous observation of optical probe reflectivity and probe pulse phase shift. Coupled with published models of bound-electron contributions to the conductivity, these two independent experimental data yielded a direct measurement of both real and imaginary components of the plasma conductivity.DOE National Nuclear Security Administration DE-FC52-03NA00156Physic
Ionization of clusters in strong X-ray laser pulses
The effect of intense X-ray laser interaction on argon clusters is studied
theoretically with a mixed quantum/classical approach. In comparison to a
single atom we find that ionization of the cluster is suppressed, which is in
striking contrast to the observed behavior of rare-gas clusters in intense
optical laser pulses. We have identified two effects responsible for this
phenomenon: A high space charge of the cluster in combination with a small
quiver amplitude and delocalization of electrons in the cluster. We elucidate
their impact for different field strengths and cluster sizes.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
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