Study of the Breakup of Fast OH−Ions Passing through Carbon Foils and Nitrogen Gas

Abstract

O${\mathrm{H}}^{-}$ ions were injected into a "Pelletron"-type tandem electrostatic accelerator and dissociated in the high-voltage terminal by passage through gas and foil strippers. The dissociated protons were further accelerated and their energy spectrum was analyzed in a 90° magnet. The ions stripped in foils exhibit the effects of a Coulomb explosion and a wake field. The stripping in gas appears to be of a different character. An explanation of this difference is proposed, based on the assumption of a strictly sequential removal of electrons from the ions.