Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Stabilities of C_n^± and C_nH^- in Linear Configuration

C_n^± and C_nH_m^- were generated on a self-built laser plasma source time-of-flight mass spectrometer with laser vaporization of graphite and chrycene. Their mass spectra were analyzed and related to their structures. To verify the suggestions of the structures based on analysis of the exprimental data, theoretical calculations were carried on in ab initio method with program of Gaussion 80. Both experimental and theoretical studies show the same results that cluster ions containing less than 10 carbon atoms arc more stable in linear configuration than in cyclic configuration; carbon cluster anions in linear configuration are more stable than their cations;C_2mH^- are more stable than C_2m+1H^- （m=1,2,3）.