Triple F⁺ ejection from SF<inf>6</inf> bombarded by swift ions

Many-body explosion of SF3+6 is investigated by the coincidence momentum imaging technique. Investigation is focused on the F +:F+:F+ dissociative channel. The momentum map of these channels indicates that the loss of neutral F from SF3+6 occurs in the first step of the break-up followed by Coulomb explosion of the residue. The angular correlation between each F+ ion is used to figure out the nature of explosion. The scalar product of three momentum vectors is determined for estimating the co-planarity of all three ejected F+ ions. From the analysis of angular correlation for coplanar and orthogonal ejection of F+ions, we conclude that there are two dominant conformations of SF3+3. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.