Dynamics of Clusters Controlled by Intense Laser Pulses

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The interaction of intense laser pulses with atomic clusters requires consideration of physics spanning the range from laser-solid to laser-gas interaction. Individual clusters are atomic aggregates up to ~1000 A in diameter formed through van der Waals bonding of atoms/molecules in a gas jet expansion. Intra-cluster density is that of a solid, while a gas of clusters formed through nozzle expansion is much less. The laser pulse therefore interacts locally with nanoscale solids (the individual clusters), yet sees the bulk medium as a gas through which it can propagate. Thus, the physics of ultrashort laser-cluster interaction has completely new features not realized either in traditional laser-solid target experiments or in laser-gas experiments. This project will explore further, and as yet untested, implications of a laser-cluster interaction model developed by the group. Specific attention will be paid to the investigation of strong compressions of intense laser-heated clusters. In a second, more applied, set of experiments, work will continue on the study of extreme ultraviolet and x-ray emission from intense laser cryogenic noble-gas droplet interactions. This work has direct implications for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source development for next-generation lithography.