Chemiionization involving rare gas metastable atoms

Abstract

Crossed beams studies of chemiionization in thermal energy collisions of helium, neon, argon, and krypton metastable atoms with ground state atoms and molecules (Ar, Kr, Xe, N2, H2, O2, NO, CO, CO2, and N2O) are described. Branching ratios are presented and in some cases absolute total ion production cross sections have been measured.