Laser-Driven Nanoplasmas in Doped Helium Droplets: Local Ignition and Anisotropic Growth

Alexey Mikaberidze, Ulf Saalmann, and Jan M. Rost
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 128102 – Published 25 March 2009

Abstract

Doping a helium nanodroplet with only a tiny xenon cluster of a few atoms sparks complete ionization of the droplet at laser intensities below the ionization threshold of helium atoms. As a result, the intrinsically inert and transparent droplet turns into a fast and strong absorber of infrared light. Microscopic calculations reveal a two-step mechanism to be responsible for the dramatic change: Avalanchelike ionization of the helium atoms on a femtosecond time scale, driven by field ionization due to the quickly charged xenon core, is followed by resonant absorption enabled by an unusual cigar-shaped nanoplasma within the droplet.

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  • Received 17 October 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.128102

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Alexey Mikaberidze, Ulf Saalmann, and Jan M. Rost

  • Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 12 — 27 March 2009

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