Ionization dynamics in nanometer-sized clusters interacting with intense laser fields

The interaction of intense laser fields with clusters is investigated theoretically using the nanoplasma model. Motivated by recent experiments with dual-pulse excitation, special attention is directed at the ionization dynamics. The yield of highly charged ions is sensitive to the delay between the two pulses which is connected with resonance phenomena in the excitation. The inclusion of screening effects into the description of ionization processes leads in the calculation to increased yields of highly charged ions. There is also an influence on the dynamics of the laser cluster interaction, e.g., on the description of temperature, expansion velocity, and changes in the optimal delay times.