Dissociation and fragmentation of N-2 molecules by slow highly charged ions

Single and multiple electron capture processes are investigated in slow collisions between highly charged Xeq+ (q = 15-21) ions and molecular nitrogen. The formation of N-2(q+) ions by electron capture, dissociation of molecular ion N-2(+) and Coulomb Explosion of N-2(q+) (1 < q <= 5) were observed. Various dissociation and Coulomb explosion (CE) channels related to multiple electron capture can be identified in the two-dimensional plot. The kinetic energy release of the fragments is derived from the time-of-flight spectra. The results are compared with CE model. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.