Relative partial cross-sections and target fragmentation in ion-adenine collisions at 56 keV

We report on our recent measurements of relative partial cross-sections σrs in collisions between 56 keV Ar8+ ions and adenine. In collisions of low-energy highly charged ions with a molecular target, long distance electron capture processes are predominant. We present an experiment that allows triple coincidence measurements between charge-analyzed projectiles, electrons and TOF-analyzed recoil ions. From the analysis of the final charge state of the projectile, we obtain the information on the total σs cross-section of having s electrons captured and stabilized on the incident ion. The number n of electrons measured in coincidence with the projectile allows us to determine the number r of electrons active in the scattering process by the rule r = n + s   and consequently to estimate the cross-sections σrs for having r active electrons with s of them stabilized on the projectile.Correlation studies of fragmented recoil ions are also presented. Depending on the initial parent charge and energy, we observe binary-fragmentation processes (small charges) or multi-fragmentation processes (high charges).