Laser initiated detonation in Rydberg matter with a fast propagating shock wave, releasing protons with keV kinetic energy

Laser pulses of 50 mJ energy initiate detonations that release energy and create shock waves in a phase of Rydberg matter (RM) mainly consisting of H2 RM clusters. The shock wave has a speed of approximately 20 km s−1. It is observed in coupled angular and time-of-flight distributions of charges released. The high speed of the shock indicates that RM is a condensed material. The kinetic energy of protons from hydrodynamic acceleration is >1keV. Protons are also released directly in Coulomb explosions from the lowest energy state n=1 of H RM, with energies of 9.4 and 19 eV.