Survival of fast molecular ions traversing a thin foil

Measured yields and energy distributions of H2+ emerging at 0° from the breakup of 2.2-MeV H3+ in 1.5-7-/cm2 carbon foils suggest that, in traversing a solid at the same velocity, the lifetime for survival with the original electron is the same for H and H2+. Seen for the first time is a reversal in the 0° intensity asymmetry between the leading and trailing H2+ breakup fragments with changing target thickness which we interpret as the result of competing wake alignment and enhanced destruction mechanisms.