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CO is one of the important molecules in dense molecular clouds, and its dissociation induced by cosmic ray heavy ions is a fundamental process for molecular breaking up and rearrangement in astronomical networks. Extensive laboratory simulations are required to understand molecular evolution in astrophysical contexts. Here, we investigate the CO dissociation induced by 1 keV/u Ar 2 + using cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy. Kinetic energy release for double electron capture Ar 2 + + CO → Ar 0 + C + + O + and transfer ionization Ar 2 + + CO → Ar + + C + + O + + e − was obtained. The dissociation mechanisms are attributed to different KER distributions. The autoionization process is identified below the CO 2 + double ionization threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a direct observation where fragmentation of the CO 2 2 + dication, upon highly charged ion impact, leads to the formation of molecular oxygen. We assert that molecular bending and bond stretching modes of the dication represent the underlying mechanisms driving the generation of O 2 + . We conducted ab initio quantum chemistry calculations for the electronic state of the dication and found that the   5 A 1 state is responsible for the bond-rearrangement reaction. The branching ratios of this channel for multiple projectile beams of varying charge and velocity have been reported and are found to be independent of the projectile's charge and velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]