FRAGMENTATION PATTERNS OF IONIZED C-5(Q-]4)() CLUSTERS (Q=1)

A new experimental set-up has been built allowing, for the first time, the complete collection, event by event, of all fragments resulting f rom the dissociation of C-5(Q+) clusters (Q = 1-->4). These ionized sp ecies were created either by dissociative excitation (Q = 1) or ioniza tion (Q = 2, 3, 4 for single, double and triple ionization respectivel y) of incident 10 MeV C-5(+) ions colliding with an He target. The fra gmentation pattern of C-5(+) is found to be radically different from t he one observed in photoexcitation or in low velocity collisions. Resu lts concerning the fragmentation of C-5(Q+) clusters with Q greater th an or equal to 2, for which no data existed up to now, exhibit a large variety in the possible fragmentation channels.