Dissociation of fast molecular ions under interaction with a material: Separation of atomic fragments

Computer simulation of the dissociation (Coulomb explosion) of fast molecular ions penetrating through thin films is performed on the basis of coupled differential equations. The charge-state distributions and angular deflections of the atomic fragments of a molecular nitrogen (N (2) (+) ) ion have been computed in the case of penetration through an amorphous carbon film. The computational results are compared with the experimental data.