Observation of fine-structure transitions in xenon charge transfer at low energies using a crossed-beam technique

Abstract

The crossed-beam method was used to investigate the charge-transfer reaction of Xe + ( 2P 3 2 ) with Xe( 1S 0). The symmetrically resonant channel producing Xe + ( 2P 3 2 ) as well as the endoergic fine-structure transition (producing Xe + ( 2P 1 2 )) with Δ J=−1 were detected. The resonant charge-transfer reaction generating Xe + ( 2P 3 2 ) is well-described by a standard rectilinear-trajectory theoretical model. Experimental results for both channels are in general accord with accepted theories for ion-atom charge exchange, but the onset threshold of the endoergic channel occurs at much lower energy than that predicted by the linear trajectory model. Evidence of non-zero center-of-mass scattering also observed.