Energy Gain and Loss Spectroscopy of Charge Changing Collisions Between Multiply Charged Ions and Neutrals

Abstract

By aid of the energy gain and loss spectroscopy the energy defect of dominant electron capture channels has been determined for various collision systems involving multiply charged ions at collision energies below ∼ 10 keV. An analysis of the measured data shows, that there exists an effective nuclear distance Rc (6a0 ⩽ Rc ⩽ 9a0), which contributes dominantly to single electron transfer processes and gives rise to large cross-section values. This result may be used to explain the cross-section ratio in atomic and molecular hydrogen. The high resolution, which may be obtained by this method, is demonstrated in the Ne2+/Xe-system, where twelve different reaction channels — corresponding to single electron capture and to transfer-ionization — are identified. An analysis of the energy spectra explains the different reaction mechanism in this collision system.