Delayed fission of highly charged C-60 molecules

The asymmetric decay of multiply charged fullerene ions C-60(q+) in charge states q = 5-8 has been studied by analysing the correlation between differ ent fragments. Binary processes as well as sequential emission of several n eutral or charged small particles is observed. Particularly, we observe a d elayed emission of C-2(+) and C-4(+) fragments on the mu s-time scale, whic h is competing with evaporation processes. With increasing charge q the cha racteristic lifetime of the fullerene ions decreases slightly, and the emis sion of C-2(+) becomes more important with respect to the C-2 evaporation.