Hindered Coulomb explosion of embedded Na clusters -- stopping, shape dynamics and energy transport

Abstract

We investigate the dynamical evolution of a Na$_8$ cluster embedded in Ar matrices of various sizes from N=30 to 1048. The system is excited by an intense short laser pulse leading to high ionization stages. We analyze the subsequent highly non-linear motion of cluster and Ar environment in terms of trajectories, shapes, and energy flow. The most prominent effects are: temporary stabilization of high charge states for several ps, sudden stopping of the Coulomb explosion of the embedded Na$_8$ clusters associated with an extremely fast energy transfer to the Ar matrix, fast distribution of energy throughout the Ar layers by a sound wave. Other ionic-atomic transfer and relaxation processes proceed at slower scale of few ps. The electron cloud is almost thermally decoupled from ions and thermalizes far beyond the ps scale.