Abstract. The fragmentation mechanism of the super heated Ni₆ cluster is studied by employing the microcanonical molecular dynamics simulations and an empirical model potential. Ni₆ cluster is heated up above the bulk Ni evaporation point temperature and then classical trajectory analysis as well as RRK theory are used to calculate survival probability, evaporation rate, average kinetic energy release and dissociation energy. It is found that the super heated clusters does not immediately disintegrate but survive for some time and then it fragments as monomers.

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