K. Nagaya

Deep Inner-Shell Multiphoton Ionization by Intense X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Pulses

We have investigated multiphoton multiple ionization dynamics of xenon atoms using a new x-ray free-electron laser facility, SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser (SACLA) in Japan, and identified that Xe(n+) with n up to 26 is produced at a photon energy of 5.5 keV. The observed high charge states (n≥24) are produced via five-photon absorption, evidencing the occurrence of multiphoton absorption involving deep inner shells. A newly developed theoretical model, which shows good agreement with the experiment, elucidates the complex pathways of sequential electronic decay cascades accessible in heavy atoms. The present study of heavy-atom ionization dynamics in high-intensity hard-x-ray pulses makes a step forward towards molecular structure determination with x-ray free-electron lasers.

Compact XFEL and AMO sciences: SACLA and SCSS

The concept, design and performance of Japans compact free-electron laser (FEL) facilities, the SPring-8 Compact SASE Source test accelerator (SCSS) and SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser (SACLA), and their applications in mainly atomic, molecular and optical science are reviewed. At SCSS, intense, ultrafast FEL pulses at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths have been utilized for investigating various multi-photon processes in atoms, molecules and clusters by means of ion and electron spectroscopy. The quantum optical effect superfluorescence has been observed with EUV excitation. A pump?probe technique combining FEL pulses with near infrared laser pulses has been realized to study the ultrafast dynamics of atoms, molecules and clusters in the sub-picosecond regime. At SACLA, deep inner-shell multi-photon ionization by intense x-ray FEL pulses has been investigated. The development of seeded FEL sources for producing transversely and temporally coherent light, as well as the expected impact on advanced science are discussed.

Second-order autocorrelation of XUV FEL pulses via time resolved two-photon single ionization of He

Second-order autocorrelation spectra of XUV free-electron laser pulses from the Spring-8 Compact SASE Source (SCSS) have been recorded by time and momentum resolved detection of two-photon single ionization of He at 20.45 eV using a split-mirror delay-stage in combination with high-resolution recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy (COLTRIMS). From the autocorrelation trace we extract a coherence time of 8 ± 2 fs and a mean pulse duration of 28 ± 5 fs, much shorter than estimations based on electron bunch-length measurements. Simulations within the partial coherence model [Opt. Lett. 35, 3441 (2010)] are in agreement with experiment if a pulse-front tilt across the FEL beam diameter is taken into account that leads to a temporal shift of about 6 fs between both pulse replicas.

Nanoplasma Formation by High Intensity Hard X-rays.

Using electron spectroscopy, we have investigated nanoplasma formation from noble gas clusters exposed to high-intensity hard-x-ray pulses at ~5 keV. Our experiment was carried out at the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser (SACLA) facility in Japan. Dedicated theoretical simulations were performed with the molecular dynamics tool XMDYN. We found that in this unprecedented wavelength regime nanoplasma formation is a highly indirect process. In the argon clusters investigated, nanoplasma is mainly formed through secondary electron cascading initiated by slow Auger electrons. Energy is distributed within the sample entirely through Auger processes and secondary electron cascading following photoabsorption, as in the hard x-ray regime there is no direct energy transfer from the field to the plasma. This plasma formation mechanism is specific to the hard-x-ray regime and may, thus, also be important for XFEL-based molecular imaging studies. In xenon clusters, photo- and Auger electrons contribute more significantly to the nanoplasma formation. Good agreement between experiment and simulations validates our modelling approach. This has wide-ranging implications for our ability to quantitatively predict the behavior of complex molecular systems irradiated by high-intensity hard x-rays.

Transient lattice contraction in the solid-to-plasma transition

Ultrafast x-ray heating of clusters leads to bond contraction in the solid-to-plasma transition. In condensed matter systems, strong optical excitations can induce phonon-driven processes that alter their mechanical properties. We report on a new phenomenon where a massive electronic excitation induces a collective change in the bond character that leads to transient lattice contraction. Single large van der Waals clusters were isochorically heated to a nanoplasma state with an intense 10-fs x-ray (pump) pulse. The structural evolution of the nanoplasma was probed with a second intense x-ray (probe) pulse, showing systematic contraction stemming from electron delocalization during the solid-to-plasma transition. These findings are relevant for any material in extreme conditions ranging from the time evolution of warm or hot dense matter to ultrafast imaging with intense x-ray pulses or, more generally, any situation that involves a condensed matter-to-plasma transition.

Sequential multiphoton multiple ionization of atomic argon and xenon irradiated by x-ray free-electron laser pulses from SACLA

We have investigated multiphoton multiple ionization of argon and xenon atoms at 5 keV using a new x-ray free electron laser (XFEL) facility, the SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser (SACLA) in Japan. The experimental results are compared with the new theoretical results presented here. The absolute fluence of the XFEL pulse has been determined with the help of the calculations utilizing two-photon processes in the argon atom. The high charge states up to +22 observed for Xe in comparison with the calculations point to the occurrence of sequential L-shell multiphoton absorption and of resonance-enabled x-ray multiple ionization.

Frustration of direct photoionization of Ar clusters in intense extreme ultraviolet pulses from a free electron laser

We have measured the kinetic energies of fragment ions from Ar clusters (average cluster size N~ 10?600) exposed to intense extreme ultraviolet free electron laser pulses (? ~ 61 nm, I~ 1.3? 1011 W cm?2). For small clusters (N 200), the average kinetic energy of ions strongly increases with increasing the cluster size, indicating a promotion of the multiple ionization, whereas the average kinetic energy is observed to be saturated for N 200. Considering how many photoelectrons can escape from the cluster, it was found that the size dependence of the ion kinetic energy exhibited the frustration of direct photoionization, which resulted from the strong Coulomb potential of the highly ionized cluster.

Charge and Nuclear Dynamics Induced by Deep Inner-Shell Multiphoton Ionization of CH3I Molecules by Intense X-ray Free-Electron Laser Pulses

In recent years, free-electron lasers operating in the true X-ray regime have opened up access to the femtosecond-scale dynamics induced by deep inner-shell ionization. We have investigated charge creation and transfer dynamics in the context of molecular Coulomb explosion of a single molecule, exposed to sequential deep inner-shell ionization within an ultrashort (10 fs) X-ray pulse. The target molecule was CH3I, methane sensitized to X-rays by halogenization with a heavy element, iodine. Time-of-flight ion spectroscopy and coincident ion analysis was employed to investigate, via the properties of the atomic fragments, single-molecule charge states of up to +22. Experimental findings have been compared with a parametric model of simultaneous Coulomb explosion and charge transfer in the molecule. The study demonstrates that including realistic charge dynamics is imperative when molecular Coulomb explosion experiments using short-pulse facilities are performed.

Multiple ionization of atomic argon irradiated by EUV free-electron laser pulses at 62 nm: evidence of sequential electron strip

We have investigated multiple ionization of atomic argon by extreme-ultraviolet light pulses (62 nm, 100 fs in width, <2 × 1014 W cm−2) at the free-electron laser facility in Japan, and observed highly charged ions with the charge state up to +6. The measured laser power dependence of the highly charged ions indicates that the multiple ionization proceeds via the sequential stripping of electrons.

Ion-ion coincidence studies on multiple ionizations of N2 and O2 molecules irradiated by extreme ultraviolet free-electron laser pulses

We have investigated multiple ionization of N(2) and O(2) molecules by 52 nm extreme-ultraviolet light pulses at the free-electron laser facility SCSS in Japan. Coulomb break-up of parent ions with charge states up to 5+ is found by the ion-ion coincidence technique. The charge-state dependence of kinetic energy release distributions suggests that the electrons are emitted sequentially in competition with the elongation of the bond length.