High energy ions generated by laser driven Coulomb explosion of cluster

We present an analytical model and three dimensional particle simulations of intense laser interaction with a cluster of overdense plasma. When laser intensity is above a critical value, it blows off all of electrons from the cluster and forms a non-neutral ion cloud. During the Coulomb explosion of the ion cloud, ions acquire their energy. Ion energy spectra are discussed in detail for different densities and sizes of clusters with various laser intensities. It is shown that ultra-fast ions are produced for relatively large clusters, and that the ion energy becomes three times greater than the maximum electrostatic potential energy of the ion cloud. The laser driven Coulomb explosion of a cluster may provide a new high energy ion source. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.