Fragmentation dynamics of CS2q+ (q=3-10) molecular ions - art. no. 032712

Dissociative ionization of highly charged CS2q+ (q = 3-10) molecular ions p roduced in collisions of CS2 with Ar8+ ions is studied at 120 keV energy. T riple coincidence techniques have been applied to measure the velocity comp onents of all three ionic fragments produced in the fragmentation process. The velocity measurements have been used to deduce the total kinetic energy released (KER) in the fragmentation of the molecular ion for each particul ar product channel. KER values were found to be similar to those predicted by a pure Coulomb explosion model, revealing the apparent unimportance of b inding electronic interactions in highly charged, multielectron molecular s ystems. The propensity of fragmentation into symmetric and asymmetric chann els depends only on energetics, with the most exothermic channel being favo red. The velocity vectors of the ion fragments yield information on ion str ucture prior to fragmentation; results indicate that the ionization is impu lsive and fragmentation is simultaneous.