Communication: Delayed asymmetric Coulomb fission of molecular clusters: application of a dielectric liquid-drop model.
Delayed asymmetric Coulomb fission in size-selected molecular dication clusters has been recorded for the first time. Observations on (NH(3))(n)(2+) clusters show that fragmentation accompanied by charge separation can occur on a microsecond time scale, exhibits considerable asymmetry, and involves a kinetic energy release of ∼0.9 eV. The fission process has been modeled by representing the fragments as charged dielectric spheres and the calculated maximum in the electrostatic interaction energy between the fragments gives a good account of the measured kinetic energy release. A simple kinetic model shows that instrumental factors may contribute to the observation of asymmetric fragmentation.
Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
Guohua
G
Wu
Xiaojing
X
Chen
Anthony J
AJ
Stace
Per
P
Linse
D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D055672:Static Electricity
D000641:Ammonia