  Zhang and coworkers have recently reported results of experiments involving
irradiation of argon clusters doped with bromofluorene chromophores by
nanosecond-long pulses of 532 nm laser light. Multiply-charged ions of atomic
argon (charge states, n, up to 7) and carbon (charge states up to 4) are
observed which are sought to be rationalised using an evaporation model. The
distinguishing facet of exploding clusters being progenitors of energetic ions
and electrons constitutes the key driver for contemporary research in
laser-cluster interactions; it is, therefore, important to point out
inconsistencies that are intrinsic to the model of Zhang and coworkers. In
light of similar reports already in the literature, we show that their model is
of limited utility in describing the dynamics that govern how fast,
multiply-charged atomic ions result from laser irradiation of gas-phase
clusters. We posit that it is plasma behaviour that underpins cluster heating
and cluster explosion dynamics.
