Triatomic wake effect and the determination of the molecular structure of HD2+ from the Coulomb explosion

A new theoretical model of the triatomic molecular wake effectis proposed and applied to molecular ions D₃⁺ andHD₂⁺ while passing through a solid. The wake effectsresulting from the reactions of the two similar ions with thin carbonfoil are also investigated by using the Coulomb explosion technique. Theexperimental results are in good agreement with theoreticalestimates and the molecular structure of HD₂⁺ isdetermined by using the model.