Multielectron ionization of large rare gas clusters

In this paper we describe high-order multielectron ionization of large rare-gas clusters in strong laser fields in terms of initial ionization due to the suppression of electrostatic barriers and a subsequent dynamic ignition process in the Coulomb exploding cluster. The mechanism of a Xe₁₁₀₀ cluster ionization in a strong laser field of 10¹⁶ W/cm² is studied in a one-electron, one-dimensional approximation. The initial ionization is realized up to the total charge of Q_c ≈ 1200. In the interval 2600 < Q_c < 6600, where electrons are moving almost freely inside the cluster due to their high kinetic energy, the mechanisms of a direct energy enhancement are responsible for ionization. The Qc > 6600 ionization becomes possible when the cluster spatial expansion due to Coulomb explosion is taken into account.