Low-energy ions interacting with anthracene molecules and clusters

The interaction of slow ions (v∼0.4a.u.) with a small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, namely anthracene (C14H10), is studied in the gas-phase either with the isolated molecule or with a pure cluster target. We discuss the ionization and fragmentation of the molecule with respect to the projectile charge state, i.e. for singly charged He+ ions and for multiply charged Xe20+ ions. For the isolated C14H10, single or multiple ionization of the molecule occurs under ion impact. The (multi) cation relative yields are compared with those obtained by other ionization methods (electron and fs-laser). The molecular dissociation occurs by loss of hydrogen and small hydrocarbon molecules, leading to the formation of CnHx cations. The interaction of Xe20+ with C14H10 clusters gives surprising results, i.e. the emission of hotter monomer compared to the interaction with He+.