PRODUCTION AND ASYMMETRIC FRAGMENTATION OF MULTICHARGED FULLERENE IONS IN XE8-60 COLLISIONS(+C)

The stability of multicharged C-60(q+) (3 less than or equal to q less than or equal to 6) fullerene ions, produced by slow (v=0.2 a.u.) Xe8 +-ion impact, has been studied using coincidence measurements between outgoing projectiles, recoil ion fragments, and ejected electrons. Evi dence was found for sequential evaporation of C-60(3+), for competitio n between evaporation and fission of C(60)(4+)d for dominant asymmetri c fission of C-60(5+) into triply and quadruply charged even-numbered fullerene and low-mass singly charged and neutral carbon clusters.