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Coulomb explosion patterns of fast C60 clusters in solids
1The State Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Electron, and Ion Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, People's Republic of China.
Physical Review Letters
|September 6, 2000
Summary
Fast C60 ion clusters penetrating an aluminum target can be stabilized or compressed by wake forces. This finding supports applications requiring significant energy deposition in small target volumes using cluster-ion beams.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Computational Science
Background:
- Fast ion clusters interacting with materials can undergo Coulomb explosion.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for applications involving energy deposition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate the Coulomb explosion of fast C60 ion clusters in an aluminum target.
- To investigate the role of dynamical screening and wake forces on cluster stability.
Main Methods:
- Molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
- Interionic interactions were screened by the target's electron gas.
- Wake forces were analyzed based on cluster speed and penetration time.
Main Results:
- Wake forces were found to be strong enough to stabilize the entire cluster against Coulomb explosion.
- Alternatively, trailing parts of the cluster could be compressed for extended periods.
- The strength of wake forces is dependent on the cluster's speed.
Conclusions:
- Dynamical screening and wake forces significantly influence the behavior of fast C60 clusters in aluminum.
- These effects offer potential for controlling cluster fragmentation and energy deposition.
- The results are promising for cluster-ion beam applications aiming for high energy densities.