Licentiate Thesis: Collision Induced Fragmentation of Molecules and Molecular Clusters
by
Michael Gatchell(Department of Physics, Stockholm University)
→
Europe/Stockholm
FB53
FB53
Description
This licentiate thesis covers experimental and theoretical studies of the fragmentation and subsequent reactions of fullerenes or Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). I present results from experiments where atoms or ions collide with fullerenes, PAHs, or clusters of these molecules at energies from 100 eV up to tens of keV.
The results of these experiments are interpreted using quantum chemical calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and a stopping model that we have developed. With these models I show that different energy transfer processes dominate at different collision energies, from nuclear stopping in low energy (~ 100 eV) collisions to electronic stopping at higher energies (~ 10 keV). I particularly focus on non-statistical fragmentation induced by nuclear stopping which can lead to the formation of exotic new species such as the odd-numbered C119 fullerene-like molecule.
