Recombination processes in atomic clusters irradiated by superintense femtosecond laser pulses

Abstract

Various mechanisms of recombination of electrons with multiply charged atomic ions in atomic clusters irradiated by superintense femtosecond laser pulses are discussed. All of the recombination mechanisms are shown to take a time considerably longer than the laser pulse duration and, hence, they can develop only in a homogeneous, fairly rarefied cluster plasma after pulse termination. All autoionization states of multiply charged ions in a dense cluster plasma have been found to be destroyed by the Holtsmark electric field.