Direct scattering and trapping–desorption of large water clusters from graphite

Large water clusters are scattered from graphite in an angular and kinetic energy resolved collision experiment. Two types of collision processes dominate the cluster–surface interactions: direct inelastic scattering of clusters and desorption of trapped clusters mediated by rapid surface-induced heating. The previously observed formation of charged clusters is concluded to mainly be associated with the trapping–desorption channel. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of the collisions agree well with the trapping–desorption channel, while the direct scattering process is less well described.