Ionization of the cluster begins with laser field-ionization on the rising edge of the laser pulse that liberates a small number of electrons, with collisional ionization then becoming important. Field ionization is described in the model by ADK tunnel ionization rates [36] and collisional ionization using the empirical formula of Lotz [37]. Both thermal and laser-driven collisional ionization is accounted for. In fact, collisional ionization is by far the dominant ionization mechanism in the nanoplasma owing to its high density, leading to the production of highly charged ions. For example, the Lotz collisional ionization rate for typical nanoplasma conditions (Ar plasma ionised to 8+, electron density of 1023 cm-3) can be 0.1 fs-1 or higher for typical thermal and quiver electron energies of around a few hundred eV. At this rate, 100% ionization to Ar9+ occurs in 10 fs or less, highlighting the extremely fast timescales involved. [TD69.pdf page 313]
See Also
3.14 - Vortex Theory of Atomic Motions 12.32 - Ionization 13.04 - Atomic Subdivision atomic Atomic Cluster X-Ray Emission Atomic Clusters Atomic Force atomic mass atomic number atomic theory atomic triplet atomic weight Clustered Water diatomic Figure 13.06 - Atomic Subdivision Force-Atomic Formation of Atomic Clusters InterAtomic ionization Laser Cluster Interactions Law of Atomic Dissociation Law of Atomic Pitch Law of Oscillating Atomic Substances Law of Pitch of Atomic Oscillation Law of Variation of Atomic Oscillation by Electricity Law of Variation of Atomic Oscillation by Sono-thermism Law of Variation of Atomic Oscillation by Temperature Law of Variation of Atomic Pitch by Electricity and Magnetism Law of Variation of Atomic Pitch by Rad-energy Law of Variation of Atomic Pitch by Temperature Law of Variation of Pitch of Atomic Oscillation by Pressure Models of Laser Cluster Interactions monatomic Nanoplasma subatomic