Suppression Of Thermal Nanoplasma Emission In Clusters Strongly Ionized By Hard X-Rays

Using electron and ion spectroscopy, we studied the electron and nuclear dynamics in similar to 50 000-atom large krypton clusters, following excitation with an intense hard x-ray pulse. Beyond the single pulse experiment, we also present the results of a time-resolved, x-ray pump-near-infrared probe measurement that allows one to learn about the time evolution of the system. After core ionization of the atoms by x-ray photons, trapped Auger and secondary electrons form a nanoplasma in which the krypton ions are embedded, according to the already published scenario. While the ion data show expected features, the electron emission spectra miss the expected pump-probe delay-dependent enhancement except for a slight enhancement in the energy range below 2 eV. Theoretical simulations help to reveal that, due to the deep trapping potential of the ions during the long time expansion accompanied by electron-ion recombination, thermal emission from the transient nanoplasma becomes quenched.