PHOTODISSOCIATION OF ${\rm{C}}_n^+$ CLUSTERS

Abstract

Photodissociation of jet-cooled, mass-selected [Formula: see text] clusters with 16≤n≤36 has been analyzed as a function of the dissociation laser fluence. From the dependence of the [Formula: see text] depletion, the number of absorbed photons and the absorption cross section have been determined. The dissociation energy is deduced from the internal energy before fragmentation. A decreasing stability is observed from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text]. Above [Formula: see text], two isomeric forms are found, with one having a higher stability.