Electron impact ionization of neutral and ionized fullerenes: ionization cross-sections and kinetic energy release

摘要

The unique structure and properties of large carbon clusters, such as C_(60), made these species the subject of numerous investigations in past years. Here, we will summarize only a small aspect of the diverse research activities involving fullerenes, namely, quantitative knowledge on the formation of positive ions following electron impact on neutral C_(60) and C_(70). In addition to these electron-impact ionization cross-sections determined for the various ion-formation processes from the neutral targets, which exhibit quite unusual and novel properties, we will also discuss and review recent quantitative results concerning collisions of electrons with mass-selected positive fullerene ions, including excitation and ionization cross-sections, and kinetic energy release distributions.