Multiple electron capture, excitation, and fragmentation in C6+−C60 collisions

International audienceWe present experimental and theoretical results on single- and multiple-electron capture, and fragmentation, in C6+ + C-60 collisions at velocities in the v(col) = 0.05 - 0.4 a.u. range. We use time-of-flight mass spectrometry and coincidence detection of charged fragments to separate pure target ionization from processes in which the C-60 target is both ionized and fragmented. The coincidence technique allows us to identify different types of fragmentation processes such as C-60(q+) -> C-58(q+) + C-2 and C-60(q+) -> C-58((q-1)+) + C-2(+). A quasimolecular approach is employed to calculate charge transfer and target excitation cross sections. First-order time-dependent perturbation and statistical methods are used to treat the postcollisional processes: the calculated rate constants for C-2 and C-2(+) emission from the excited and charged fullerene are then used to evaluate the fragmentation dynamics. We show that the target ionization cross section decreases with the induced target charge state and the impact energy. C-2 emission from C-60(q+) is found to dominate when q = 5, in agreement with the present and previous experimental results