A crossed beam study of the charge-transfer reaction of Ar+ with N2 at low and intermediate energies

Abstract

The charge‐transfer reaction Ar⁺(N₂,Ar) N⁺₂ was studied in a crossed beam experiment at 1.73 and 4.01 eV collision energies. A weak plasma ion source was used to generate a nearly pure Ar⁺ (²P_3/2) ion beam, which is crossed at 90° by a He‐seeded supersonic jet N₂ beam. Detailed analysis of the results demonstrates that the reaction proceeds cleanly to generate N⁺₂(X Σ⁺_g, v=1) with a distribution of rotational states. A direct mechanism, qualitatively described as electron jump with negligible momentum transfer, is followed at collision energies of 1.7 and 4 eV.