Calculation of charge-state distributions of accelerated ions in gas media

Abstract

Charge-state distributions of medium-mass ions passing through H2 or He gas targets were calculated by means of a Monte Carlo code that only uses semiempirical formulae for electron-capture and electron-loss cross sections as inputs. A good agreement with experimental data was achieved. In this paper, we suggest the use of these calculations to study the effect of nuclear fusion reactions on the atomic electrons of the reactants, and on the ionic charge state of the products.