Time-resolved metastable fractions of fullerenes

Time-resolved metastable fractions (MFs) for Cn+ (n = 48−62) were measured on an ion trap/reflectron mass spectrometer for trapping times up to 100 μs. The plot of the MFs versus ln(t2t1) (where t1 and t2 are the times corresponding to the beginning and end of a metastable time window, respectively) is non-linear and approaches MF = 0 asymptotically as ln(t2t1) approaches zero. We demonstrate that this experimental result can be modeled only by taking radiative decay, in addition to dissociative C2-evaporative decay, into account.