Ionisation and Excitation in Ion-Cluster Collisions

Abstract

Collisions between ions and clusters are an efficient tool to prepare clusters in high charge states. We discuss recent results on the mechanisms and the degree of ionisation which can be obtained in close and in peripheral collisions with projectiles in low and high charge states. Furthermore, the energy which is transferred in the collision as well as the energy sharing between the electronic system and the vibrational modes are considered. Recent experiments have shown, that multi-ionisation of clusters by highly charged ions is possible without essential heating; the energy transfer can be as low as 2 eV for a five-fold ionisation.