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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Ionization of clusters in strong x-ray laser pulses
Ulf Saalmann1, Jan-Michael Rost
1Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
Abstract:
The effect of intense x-ray laser interaction on argon clusters is studied theoretically with a mixed quantum/classical approach. In comparison to a single atom we find that ionization of the cluster is suppressed, which is in striking contrast to the observed behavior of rare-gas clusters in intense optical laser pulses. We have identified two effects responsible for this phenomenon: A high space charge of the cluster in combination with a small quiver amplitude and delocalization of electrons in the cluster. We elucidate their impact for different field strengths and cluster sizes.
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