Kinetic energy release distributions and evaporation energies for metastable fullerene ions

Kinetic energy release distributions for spontaneous (metastable) decay of singly, doubly and triply charged fullerene ions have been measured for C-6 0(z+) and C-58(z+) The data are analyzed in terms of generalized Maxwell di stributions. Based on recently measured values of the Gspann parameter gamm a, energies for evaporation of C-2 are derived. An average evaporation ener gy E-a= 11.6 eV is obtained for gamma = 37.6; E,= 10.1 eV is obtained for g amma = 33, No significant dependence of E-a on the size or charge state of the ions is observed within the experimental error of about -11% to +5%. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science B,V, All rights reserved.