Diffraction imaging of light induced dynamics in xenon-doped helium nanodroplets

Abstract We explore the light induced dynamics in superfluid helium nanodroplets with wide-angle scattering a pump–probe measurement scheme. The droplets are doped xenon atoms to facilitate ignition of nanoplasma through irradiation near-infrared laser pulses. After variable time delay up 800 ps, we image subsequent using intense extreme ultraviolet pulses from FERMI free-electron laser. recorded images exhibit complex intensity fluctuations that categorized based on their characteristic features. Systematic simulations diffraction patterns performed, which can qualitatively explain observed features by employing model shapes both randomly distributed as well structured, symmetric distortions. This points connection between and positions dopants droplets. In particular, structured might be governed an underlying array quantized vortices droplet has been previous small-angle experiments. Our results provide basis for further investigations dopant–droplet interactions associated heating mechanisms.