Dynamics in a cluster under the influence of intense femtosecond hard x-ray pulses

Abstract

In this paper we examine the behavior of small cluster of atoms in a short (10-50 fs) very intense hard x-ray (10 keV) pulse. We use numerical modeling based on the non-relativistic classical equation of motion. Quantum processes are taken into account by the respective cross sections. We show that there is a Coulomb explosion, which has a different dynamics than one finds in classical laser driven cluster explosions. We discuss the consequences of our results to single molecule imaging by the free electron laser pulses.