<i>Q</i>-value measurements in charge-transfer collisions of highly charged ions with atoms by recoil longitudinal momentum spectroscopy

Abstract

We report on the first Q-value measurements in charge-transfer collisions using recoil longitudinal momentum spectroscopy. This method is not limited to relatively low beam energies and is easily adaptable to captures involving any number of transferred electrons. A very monoenergetic beam is not necessary. For a 50-keV ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{15+}$ on Ar collision system, Q values coresponding to single through quintuple electron capture were measured and found to be in good agreement with the predictions of the molecular classical overbarrier model.