Reaction of C+ with CH4 in the 2–200-eV Energy Range

Abstract

The reaction of C+(2P) with CH4 has been investigated in the 2–200-eV energy region using a tandem mass spectrometer. All possible ions containing one or two carbon atoms were observed except C2H4+. The behavior of the cross sections as a function of the kinetic energy of the incident ion was used to infer reaction mechanism. Evidence was obtained for the presence of a complex, stripping and binary collision mechanisms.