Close encounters of the multiple-capture kind: Ca ions in Ar

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Collisions in which a fast highly charged ion passes within the orbit of inner-shell electrons of a target gas atom are selected by emission of an X-ray from the projectile or target. Measurement of the projectile charge state after the collision, in coincidence with the X-ray, allows measurement of the charge-transfer probability during these close collisions. When the projectile velocity is approximately the same as that of the target electrons, a large number of electrons can be transferred to the projectile in a single collision. Results for 47–160 MeV Ca 17+ + Ar show that the relative electron-capture probability in a close encounter decreases with increasing projectile velocity.