Cluster assistant multiply ionization of benzene by nanosecond laser: wavelength dependence of the production of highly charged carbon ions

The multicharged carbon ions are produced in the laser ionization of molecular benzene beam seeded in noble gas by a nanosecond Nd-YAG laser with intensities of ∼1011 W cm−2 at 1064 and 532 nm. The He-like C4+ ions are the dominant carbon ions at 1064 nm, while C2+ ions are the main multicharged ions at 532 nm. When the laser wavelength is changed to 355 and 266 nm, only singly charged ions are observed. The multicharged atomic ions are probably produced in Coulomb explosion of highly charged benzene ions.