Branching ratios of successive emission (up to three) of C_2n⁺ (n = 1–5) fragments in asymmetrical fission processes of C₆₀^r+ ions (r = 4–6)

Highly charged C60 molecules are produced in collisions between neutral C60 and multiply charged ions within a large range of temperatures. Successive emission of one, two or three light monocharged fragments referred as one-, two- and three-step processes have been observed. The experimental mass branching ratios for the emission of one C2n+ fragment from C606+, C605+ and C604+ ions are compared with the theoretical values using a statistical model. From hotter C606+ ions, branching ratios for three-step processes have been measured and the data are in good agreement with an estimation using the branching ratios in one-step process.