Prompt and metastable decomposition in 252Cf fission fragment ionization mass spectrometry

High energy ion bombardment of organic compounds in the condensed phase is foundto gice rise to secondary molecular ions in the gas phase containing appreciable internal energy of excitation. This paper presents the results of time-of-flight mass spectrometric studies of the subsequent prompt and metastable decomposition of these excited ions. The implications of the findings on the fragmentation mechanisms involved in heavy particle bombardment mass spectrometry is discussed.