Influence of electronic transitions on the collision-induced multifragmentation dynamics of Na4+ cluster ions

The collision-induced multifragmentation of Na4+ alkali metal cluster ions by He impact in the 100 eV (center of mass) collision energy range is investigated theoretically using a DIM-based nonadiabatic molecular dynamics method. Compared to our earlier adiabatic molecular dynamics calculations new fragmentation channels are populated and new relaxation processes of excited electronic states to the ground state take place. The mechanisms of the different processes are analyzed. Comparisons with experiments are presented and discussed.