title: Thermal quenching of electronic shells and channel competition in cluster fission.
abstract: Experimental and theoretical studies of fission of doubly charged Li, Na, and K clusters in the low-fissility regime reveal the strong influence of electronic shell effects on the fission products. The electronic entropy controls the quenching of the shell effects and the competition between magic-fragment channels, leading to a transition from favored channels of higher mass symmetry to the asymmetric channel involving the trimer cation at elevated temperatures.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0430, USA.
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yannouleas
authors.forename: Uzi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Landman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bréchignac
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cahuzac
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Concina
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leygnier