Secondary emission of molecular ions from light-element targets

Abstract

We present some experimental results and calculations on ion clusters produced by primary ion bombardment of light element samples (lithium, beryllium, graphite). Alternations according to the parity of the atom number in the clusters are found in their stabilities, ionization potentials and electron affinities: Li_2n±1 ⁺ and C_{2n −} ions are found more stable than Li_2n ⁺ and C_2n±1 ⁻ ions respectively. On the other hand, stability of Be⁺ _n decreases when n increases. These alternating properties are studied with CNDO computations. We also compare our results to those of other authors.