Charge transfer in He²⁺-H collisions in the energy range 6-60 keV

Abstract

Cross sections sigma 21* for the accidentally resonant charge transfer process H22++H(1s) to He+(2s)+H+ have been determined from studies of the yield of He+(2s) metastable ions formed in the passage of 6-60 keV 3He2+ ions through a tungsten tube furnace containing highly dissociated hydrogen. Measured cross sections, believed to be accurate to within a factor of two, exhibit a similar non-resonant energy dependence but are about a factor of four smaller than recent theoretical estimates by Rapp (1973) based on a multi-state impact parameter treatment. Total capture cross sections sigma 21 for the process He2++H(1s) to He+( Sigma (n,l))+H+ have also been determined and compared with theoretical estimates. sigma 21* is found to be between 8% and 10% of sigma 21.