Collisional Excitation of O +2 and N +2 Electronic States via Single Electron Capture by B 2+ Ions

Abstract

High-resolution translational energy spectra have been obtained for single-electron capture by 4-keV B 2+ ions in collision with Ne, O 2, and N 2. The Ne spectrum is used for accurate determination of the zero energy-change position for subsequent analysis of the complex molecular spectra. Six capture channels have been unambiguously identified for the O 2 spectrum; two of these involve capture-excitation, which leaves the O + 2 ion in its fourth excited state, responsible for subsequent emission of the first negative band system [ b 4Σ − g → a 4Π u ] of O + 2. The N 2 spectrum consists of seven narrow spectral features, four of which are identified with capture channels from which the first and second excited electronic states of the N + 2 ion are accessed. These constitute the upper states of the Meinel [ A 2Π u → X 2Σ − g ] and first negative [ B 2Σ + u → X 2Σ + g ] band systems of the N + 2 ion.