Novel ionization mechanisms of molecular clusters in ultraintense laser fields

We explore extreme multielectron ionization of (Xe)_n molecular clusters resulting in the formation of highly charged Xe^k+, k = 8-32, ions in ultraintense laser fields (intensity I = 10¹⁶-10 ¹⁹ W cm^-2), which is driven by a compound, sequential-parallel, inner-outer ionization mechanism. A computational and theoretical study is advanced for the three fundamental processes of electron fs dynamics, which involve the barrier suppression of inner ionization of the constituents, the formation of an energetic electron-positive ion charged plasma within the cluster and the outer ionization of unbound electrons from the cluster. New features of the formation, characteristics, response and dynamics of the electron-positive ion charged plasma in molecular clusters in ultraintense laser fields were explored, providing novel information on a transient (1-100 fs) metallic state in finite chemical systems.