Electron capture by multiply charged ions

Abstract

Double mass-spectrometer measurements are reported of one- and two-electron capture cross sections for Ne²⁺ Ne, Ar²⁺ Ar, Kr²⁺ Kr, Xe²⁺ Xe, CO²⁺ N₂, Kr⁴⁺ Ne in the energy region 400-3600 eV. The symmetrical resonance two-electron processes are compared with the theory of Fetisov and Firsov. The single-electron transitions are believed to occur at pseudo-crossings of potential energy curves and the data are successfully interpreted in terms of transitions at single crossings. Inferences are made of the second ionization potentials of CO and N₂, and of the fourth ionization potential of Kr.