Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields
Intense laser fields are known to induce strong ionization in atoms. In nanoclusters, ionization is only stronger, resulting in very high charge densities that lead to Coulomb explosion and emission of accelerated highly charged ions. In such a strongly ionized system, it is neither conceivable nor...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2013-01-01
|
| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/4/043036 |
| _version_ | 1797751663685009408 |
|---|---|
| author | R Rajeev T Madhu Trivikram K P M Rishad V Narayanan M Krishnamurthy |
| author_facet | R Rajeev T Madhu Trivikram K P M Rishad V Narayanan M Krishnamurthy |
| author_sort | R Rajeev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intense laser fields are known to induce strong ionization in atoms. In nanoclusters, ionization is only stronger, resulting in very high charge densities that lead to Coulomb explosion and emission of accelerated highly charged ions. In such a strongly ionized system, it is neither conceivable nor intuitive that energetic negative ions can originate. Here we demonstrate that in a dense cluster ensemble, where atomic species of positive electron affinity are used, it is indeed possible to generate negative ions with energy and ion yield approaching that of positive ions. It is shown that the process behind such a strong charge reduction is extraneous to the ionization dynamics of single clusters within the focal volume. Normal and well-known charge transfer reactions are insufficient to explain the observations. Our analysis reveals the formation of a manifold of Rydberg excited clusters around the focal volume that facilitate orders of magnitudes more efficient electron transfer. This phenomenon, which involves an active role of laser-heated electrons, comprehensively explains the formation of copious accelerated negative ions from the nano-cluster plasma. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:52:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99bab98d8a3049e0ada2fa8cf4f87174 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:52:49Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-99bab98d8a3049e0ada2fa8cf4f871742023-08-08T11:07:18ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302013-01-0115404303610.1088/1367-2630/15/4/043036Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fieldsR Rajeev0T Madhu Trivikram1K P M Rishad2V Narayanan3M Krishnamurthy4Tata Institute of Fundamental Research , 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, IndiaTata Institute of Fundamental Research , 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, IndiaTata Institute of Fundamental Research , 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, IndiaTata Institute of Fundamental Research , 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, IndiaTata Institute of Fundamental Research , 1, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, IndiaIntense laser fields are known to induce strong ionization in atoms. In nanoclusters, ionization is only stronger, resulting in very high charge densities that lead to Coulomb explosion and emission of accelerated highly charged ions. In such a strongly ionized system, it is neither conceivable nor intuitive that energetic negative ions can originate. Here we demonstrate that in a dense cluster ensemble, where atomic species of positive electron affinity are used, it is indeed possible to generate negative ions with energy and ion yield approaching that of positive ions. It is shown that the process behind such a strong charge reduction is extraneous to the ionization dynamics of single clusters within the focal volume. Normal and well-known charge transfer reactions are insufficient to explain the observations. Our analysis reveals the formation of a manifold of Rydberg excited clusters around the focal volume that facilitate orders of magnitudes more efficient electron transfer. This phenomenon, which involves an active role of laser-heated electrons, comprehensively explains the formation of copious accelerated negative ions from the nano-cluster plasma.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/4/043036 |
| spellingShingle | R Rajeev T Madhu Trivikram K P M Rishad V Narayanan M Krishnamurthy Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields New Journal of Physics |
| title | Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields |
| title_full | Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields |
| title_fullStr | Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields |
| title_full_unstemmed | Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields |
| title_short | Generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields |
| title_sort | generation of energetic negative ions from clusters using intense laser fields |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/4/043036 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rrajeev generationofenergeticnegativeionsfromclustersusingintenselaserfields AT tmadhutrivikram generationofenergeticnegativeionsfromclustersusingintenselaserfields AT kpmrishad generationofenergeticnegativeionsfromclustersusingintenselaserfields AT vnarayanan generationofenergeticnegativeionsfromclustersusingintenselaserfields AT mkrishnamurthy generationofenergeticnegativeionsfromclustersusingintenselaserfields |