Fullerene C$_{60}$ formation in partially ionized carbon vapor

The assembling rate of a fullerene C$_{60}$ molecule has been theoretically studied as a function of electron concentration and temperature in partially ionized carbon vapor. For C$_{60}$ formation via one or two intermediate stages of cluster collisions, it has been shown that there is a region of plasma parameters (the temperature and electron concentration) in which fullerene C$_{60}$ is formed more efficiently. The C$_{60}$ formation rate versus temperature and electron concentration relationships have been found to correlate with the trends in the collision cross-section of carbon clusters as functions of these parameters.