The strong-field ionization dynamics of Ag and Xe clusters are studied using fs pulse shaping. By tailoring the temporal shapes of the laser pulses, the coupling of the energy into the Ag clusters can be controlled, leading to a maximum yield of highly charged atomic ions and an enhancement of the highest atomic charge states. For Xe, fitness scans of the laser parameters show that a two-step ionization scheme gives rise to an extreme charging of the clusters. Three-pulse trains obtained in an optimization experiment are even more effective and result in maximum yields of different chosen charge states.
