Survival of Fast Molecular Ions Traversing a Thin Foil

Measured yields and energy distributions of ${\mathrm{H}}_2^{+}$ emerging at 0° from the breakup of 2.2-MeV ${\mathrm{H}}_3^{+}$ in 1.5-7-μg/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ 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 ${\mathrm{H}}_2^{+}$. Seen for the first time is a reversal in the 0° intensity asymmetry between the leading and trailing ${\mathrm{H}}_2^{+}$ breakup fragments with changing target thickness which we interpret as the result of competing wake alignment and enhanced destruction mechanisms.