First direct observation of coulomb explosion during the formation of exotic atoms

Phys Rev Lett. 2000 May 15;84(20):4573-6. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4573.

Abstract

A Doppler broadening of x-ray transitions from pionic nitrogen and muonic oxygen, which is attributed to Coulomb explosion of the molecules, has been observed by using a crystal spectrometer. Large linewidths indicate fast ionization of the molecules and a charge of (3-4)e for the accelerated fragments.