Laser-Cluster-Interaction in a Nanoplasma-Model with Inclusion of Lowered Ionization Energies

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical study of laser interactions with silver and argon clusters, highlighting how lowered ionization energies in a nanoplasma model affect ionization dynamics and increase highly charged ion yields.

Contribution

It introduces a modified nanoplasma model that includes lowered ionization energies to better understand laser-cluster interactions.

Findings

Lowered ionization energies significantly increase highly charged ion yields.

The dense cluster environment alters inner ionization processes.

Dynamics of laser-cluster interaction are substantially affected by ionization energy modifications.

Abstract

The interaction of intense laser fields with silver and argon clusters is investigated theoretically using a modified nanoplasma model. Single pulse and double pulse excitations are considered. The influence of the dense cluster environment on the inner ionization processes is studied including the lowering of the ionization energies. There are considerable changes in the dynamics of the laser-cluster interaction. Especially, for silver clusters, the lowering of the ionization energies leads to increased yields of highly charged ions.