Mass spectra of molecules and radiation chemistry

Abstract

1. A discussion is given of the character of molecular dissociation as a function of the energy and nature of the bombarding particles. Experimental studies of the dissociation spectra of CH 4 + ions with an energy of 3.5 keV during single collisions with molecules have shown that these spectra are similar to the usual mass spectra of methane at an electron energy of 70 eV. 2. Collision with a fast ion (energy, tens of keV) causes more profound dissociation than ionization of the corresponding molecule by electrons with energies from several tens of volts to 12 keV. Ion impact in this case produces more highly excited states than electron impact. 3. The molecular and fragment ions formed in electron impact have an excitation energy close to the dissociation energy. 4. A discussion is given of the dissociation rate of molecules, and of the correlation between mass spectra and radiolysis product yields.