Electron capture processes in collisions between Mg (6 2S 1/2) atoms and Na +( 1S 0) ions in the 0.10–4.00 keV energy range

Abstract

The fluorescence of excited species formed in collisions between neutral magnesium atoms and sodium ions has been studied experimentally using a crossed ion–atom beam technique. The only emission detected corresponded to the Na(3 2P 3/2,1/2) → Na(3 2S 1/2) decay of neutral Na atoms formed by electron capture. Its strength has permitted to resolve it into its J=1/2 and J=3/2 states, and for the latter the M j magnetic states have also been separated, cross-section dependence on collision energy or branching ratio being given for all of them.