Cluster explosion in an intense laser pulse: Thomas-Fermi model

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Abstract
A refined three-dimensional version of the time-dependent Thomas-Fermi model 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 strong subpicosecond laser pulse. A stepwise character of the explosion is observed in which atomic shells are expelled sequentially. The role of “hot” electron dynamics in the explosion process is also investigated via initial 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.