Formations of Dumbbell C-118 and C-119 inside Clusters of C-60 Molecules by Collision with alpha Particles

• We report highly selective covalent bond modifications in collisions between keV alpha particles and van der Waals clusters of C-60 fullerenes. Surprisingly, C-119(+) and C-118(+) are the dominant molecular fusion products. We use molecular dynamics simulations to show that C-59(+) and C-58(+) ions-effectively produced in prompt knockout processes with He2+-react rapidly with C-60 to form dumbbell C-119(+) and C-118(+). Ion impact on molecular clusters in general is expected to lead to efficient secondary reactions of interest for astrophysics. These reactions are different from those induced by photons.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Physics

fysik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)