Dynamical coupling of electrons and nuclei for Coulomb explosion of argon trimers in intense laser fields

Abstract

We have experimentally and theoretically studied the fragmentation dynamics of argon trimer $(\mathrm{A}{\mathrm{r}}_{3})$ in intense laser fields. By coincidently measuring the momentum vectors, we obtained the emission geometry of the three fragmental ions produced in the three-body fragmentation process. In addition to the direct Coulomb explosion channels, we observed the indirect Coulomb explosion channels with Rydberg excitation. We have further developed a classical polyatomic molecular ensemble model, in which all interactions among electrons and nuclei are fully included, to simulate the fragmentation dynamics of argon trimer in intense laser fields. The experimental observations have been reproduced by the model calculation. The simulations show that the Rydberg excitation modifies the kinetic energy release as well as the emission geometry of fragmental ions during the explosion process. The study provides insight into the correlation dynamics of electrons and nuclei of many-body physics driven by intense laser fields.