Auger Electrons from Molecular Break-Up

In collisions of heavy ions in the MeV energy range with solid or gaseous targets both collision partners are highly excited and highly ionized. Molecules, thus excited, loose most of their outer electrons so that the remaining molecular fragments are strongly repelled by their mutual Coulomb force (dissociation and Coulomb explosion). The influence of the repulsion on the decay of prompt and metastable autoionizing electronic states in molecular targets and molecular projectile ions are reported. Evidence of the wake potential acting on the molecular break-up in molecular-ion/solid interaction is discussed. Potential application is presented.