MULTIPLE H-3(+) FRAGMENT PRODUCTION IN SINGLE COLLISION OF FAST H-N(+) CLUSTERS WITH HE ATOMS

The production of H-3(+) ions resulting from single collisions of mass-selected ionic hydrogen clusters, H-n(+) (n = 9, 25, 31), with helium at high velocity (1.55 times the Bohr velocity) has been studied. A strong double H-3(+) ion production resulting from one incident cluster is observed. Moreover, evidence for a triple H-3(+) fragment production is presented for n = 25 and 31. Thus, in this energy range, the collision gives rise to multifragmentation processes. The formation of H-3(+) ions takes place in the fragmentation of the multicharged cluster resulting from the collision.