The production of continuous electron spectra in collisions of heavy ions and atoms. I. molecular autoionisation

Abstract

The continuous part of the electron spectra produced in Krn+-Kr collisions has been measured. Electrons are measured in the energy interval between 80 and 1400 eV. Projectile energies between 50 and 800 keV, emission angles from 45 to 135 degrees and projectile charge states from 2+ to 5+ are used. The data are interpreted in terms of molecular autoionisation due to the vacancies present in the 4p pi MO of the Kr2 quasimolecule. The authors' results confirm the assignment of Afrosimov et al. (1977) for the spectrum obtained at much lower projectile energies. From the spectra the experimental MO is determined and is compared with theoretical calculations. A simple model calculation is in good agreement with the data if decay rates as high as 1016 s-1 are used.