title: Size-dependent ultrafast ionization dynamics of nanoscale samples in intense femtosecond x-ray free-electron-laser pulses.
abstract: All matter exposed to intense femtosecond x-ray pulses from the Linac Coherent Light Source free-electron laser is strongly ionized on time scales competing with the inner-shell vacancy lifetimes. We show that for nanoscale objects the environment, i.e., nanoparticle size, is an important parameter for the time-dependent ionization dynamics. The Auger lifetimes of large Ar clusters are found to be increased compared to small clusters and isolated atoms, due to delocalization of the valence electrons in the x-ray-induced nanoplasma. As a consequence, large nanometer-sized samples absorb intense femtosecond x-ray pulses less efficiently than small ones.
authors.affiliation: Linac Coherent Light Source, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford, California 94309, USA.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schorb
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Swiggers
authors.forename: Ryan N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Coffee
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Messerschmidt
authors.forename: Garth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bozek
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kornilov
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bostedt