Collision Induced Fragmentation of Molecules and Molecular Clusters Knockout Driven Reactions in Fullerenes and PAHs

Abstract: This licentiate thesis covers experimental and theoretical studies of the fragmentation and sub- sequent reactions of fullerenes or Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). I present results from experiments where atoms or ions collide with fullerenes, PAHs, or clusters of these mole- cules at energies from 100 eV up to tens of keV.The results of these experiments are interpreted using quantum chemical calculations, mol- ecular dynamics simulations, and a stopping model that we have developed. With these models I show that different energy transfer processes dominate at different collision energies, from nuclear stopping in low energy (~ 100 eV) collisions to electronic stopping at higher energies (~ 10 keV). I particularly focus on non-statistical fragmentation induced by nuclear stopping which can lead to the formation of exotic new species such as the odd-numbered C119 fullerene- like molecule.