H₂ formation from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon molecules

In this work we study statistical fragmentation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules following collisions with keV ions. Dissociation and transition state energies for H- and H₂-emissions from PAHs have been calculated and a simple electronic stopping model has been used to calculate collision-induced internal PAH temperatures. We find that H₂ may be formed efficiently from pristine PAHs for internal ion temperatures above 2200 K. (paper)