First studies of state selective electron capture from atomic hydrogen by state prepared doubly charged ions

Abstract

Electron Capture by multiply charged ions in atomic hydrogen and nitrogen is an important process in planetary atmospheres and in many astrophysical and technological plasmas. Excited state formation and decay results in photon emission in the optical, UV, and X-ray regions. In these studies doubly charged ions of carbon or nitrogen and oxygen have been prepared in either ground or metastable states prior to colliding with atomic hydrogen and nitrogen target enabling, for the first time, true state electron capture processes to be investigated. Comparison between present results and existing theoretical calculations have been made. Although the comparison is good for the major reaction channels there is disagreement between experimental results and theory for the minor reaction channels.