Influence of buffer gas and vibration temperature of carbon clusters on fullerene formation in a carbon plasma.

A new model for calculation of fullerene formation rate in carbon containing plasma is proposed. The model takes into account carbon cluster heating and cooling during transformations due to chemical bonds formation and destruction. In addition, the heating and cooling of carbon clusters by buffer gas is considered. The calculations give the qualitatively correct correlation between fullerene yields in helium and argon.