Experimental measurements of scaling with cluster and laser parameters of the energies of ions produced in the explosion of atomic clusters have been obtained, with a view to experimental optimization of the cluster explosion temperature. The noble-gas clusters were irradiated with high-intensity, 200-fs laser pulses. Ion energy scalings with cluster size (ranging from ${10}^2–{10}^5$ atoms per cluster), laser intensity ${(10\mathrm{}}^{14}–{10}^{16}{\mathrm{W}\mathrm{}\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{-}2}),$ and laser wavelength (780 and 390 nm) are presented for both Xe and Kr clusters. Numerical calculations of the interaction, treating the cluster as a spherical nanoplasma, are also presented.

• Received 28 September 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.61.063201