Sequential Dissociation Kinetics and Fragment Distribution of Cluster Ions

Abstract

A sequential fragmentation mechanism for production of cluster ions is explored. Based on the mechanism, the kinetic equations were built and analytically solved with and without the constant rate coefficient assumption. Furthermore, the probability of deactivation of the cluster ions was considered, and the kinetic equation with this consideration was also analytically solved. The solutions are able to account for the features of recorded size distribution and magic numbers of C+60 and other cluster ions. The range of time window observing the evaluative yield populations of sequential loss mechanism can also be estimated.