Cluster-cluster collisions: Fusion, phase transition and fragmentation phenomena

The dynamics of cluster-cluster collisions has been predicted to be very similar to that of heavy ion collisions. This paper discusses experimental results obtained for collisions of carbon clusters (fullerenes) and compares this data with the results of quantum molecular dynamics simulations and simple statistical models. The collision energies studied cover the range from below the energetic threshold for fusion to the region where multifragmentation may be expected to occur. There are a number of similarities to the dynamics of heavy ion collisions but also some important differences related to the strong directional covalent bonding in the carbon clusters.