COMPETITIVE INTERNAL TRANSFERS IN METASTABLE DECAY OF CLUSTER IONS

In a previous study of fragmentation patterns of (Ar): clusters [G. De lgado-Barrio, S. Miret-Artes, P. Villarreal, and E A. Gianturco, Z. Ph ys. D 27, 354 (1993)] it was found that overall rotations control the lifetimes of the occupied metastable states of the cluster and that a spherical, effective interaction was sufficient to describe the dynami cal process. In the present study, the strong anisotropy of a more rea listic three-particle interaction is introduced and its effects on met astable decay are examined. By separating internal rotations from inte rnal vibrations of the diatomic ion, it is possible to show that inter nal predissociation pathways are very efficient and lead to very short lifetimes. The latter can be lengthened only when overall rotational states are directly included, thus confirming the physical picture of the earlier work.