Tracing transient charges in expanding clusters

Abstract

We study transient charges formed in methane clusters following ionization by intense near-infrared laser pulses. Cluster ionization by 400 fs ($I=1 \times 10^{14}$ W/cm$^2$) pulses is highly efficient, resulting in the observation of a dominant C$^{3+}$ ion contribution. The C$^{4+}$ ion yield is very small, but is strongly enhanced by applying a time-delayed weak near-infrared pulse. We conclude that most of the valence electrons are removed from their atoms during the laser-cluster interaction, and that electrons from the nanoplasma recombine with ions and populate Rydberg states when the cluster expands, leading to a \textit{decrease} of the average charge state of individual ions. Furthermore, we find clear bound-state signatures in the electron kinetic energy spectrum, which we attribute to Auger decay taking place in expanding clusters. Such nonradiative processes lead to an \textit{increase} of the final average ion charge state that is measured in experiments. Our results suggest that it is crucial to include both recombination and nonradiative decay processes for the understanding of recorded ion charge spectra.