title: Ionization of Clusters in Intense Laser Pulses through Collective Electron Dynamics.
abstract: The motion of electrons and ions in medium-sized rare gas clusters ( approximately 1000 atoms) exposed to intense laser pulses is studied microscopically by means of classical molecular dynamics using a hierarchical tree code. Pulse parameters for optimum ionization are found to be wavelength dependent. This resonant behavior is traced back to a collective electron oscillation inside the charged cluster. It is shown that this dynamics can be well described by a driven and damped harmonic oscillator allowing for a clear discrimination against other energy absorption mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Nöthnitzer Strasse 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saalmann
authors.forename: Jan-Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rost