Energy absorption of xenon clusters in helium nanodroplets under strong laser pulses

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how xenon clusters within helium nanodroplets absorb energy from strong femtosecond laser pulses, revealing earlier and more efficient absorption due to resonant helium nanoplasma formation catalyzed by xenon cores.

Contribution

It demonstrates the enhanced energy absorption in xenon-helium nanodroplets and identifies conditions for observing multiple plasma resonances simultaneously.

Findings

Earlier energy absorption compared to pure clusters

Resonant absorption of helium nanoplasma catalyzed by xenon core

Identification of plasma resonances due to helium shell and xenon core

Abstract

Energy absorption of xenon clusters embedded in helium nanodroplets from strong femtosecond laser pulses is studied theoretically. Compared to pure clusters we find earlier and more efficient energy absorption in agreement with experiments. This effect is due to resonant absorption of the helium nanoplasma whose formation is catalyzed by the xenon core. For very short double pulses with variable delay both plasma resonances, due to the helium shell and the xenon core, are identified and the experimental conditions are given which should allow for a simultaneous observation of both of them.