M. Chabot et al., Multi-ionization cross-sections of small ionic carbon clusters by particleimpact as a tool to investigate their shapes, EUR PHY J D, 14(1), 2001, pp. 5-8
Single, double and triple ionization cross-sections of C-n(+) clusters in c
ollisions with helium atoms at intermediate velocity (2.6 a.u.) have been m
easured (n = 1 --> 5). The relative multi-ionization cross-sections (double
over single and triple over single) are first increasing with n, then decr
easing when going from n = 4 to n = 5. We show, on the basis of an independ
ent atom and electron collisional treatment, that this effect is attributab
le to a change in the cluster shape. The role of the cluster compactness on
relative multi-ionization cross-sections is pointed out here for the first
time.