EBIT Charge-Exchange Measurements and Astrophysical Applications

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in charge exchange (CX) measurements and their significance in astrophysics, highlighting laboratory experiments and theoretical models that explain CX-related X-ray emissions in various cosmic environments.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive summary of laboratory measurements and theoretical predictions of charge exchange X-ray emission, emphasizing recent experimental techniques and astrophysical implications.

Findings

CX contributes significantly to soft X-ray background.

Laboratory measurements on electron beam ion traps inform astrophysical models.

CX processes are relevant in diverse cosmic environments like comets, planetary atmospheres, and supernova remnants.

Abstract

The past decade has seen a surge of interest in astrophysical charge exchange (CX). The impetus was the discovery of X-ray emission from comets in 1996, soon followed by the observation of CX emission in planetary atmospheres and throughout the heliosphere. Geocoronal and heliospheric CX are now recognized to contribute a considerable fraction of the soft X-ray background, and stellar-wind charge exchange is expected to occur in the astrospheres surrounding many stars. CX may also contribute to X-ray line emission in supernova remnants, the Galactic Center, and the Galactic Ridge. This article summarizes the key aspects of CX X-ray emission and its astrophysical relevance, and reviews related laboratory measurements and theoretical predictions with particular attention to spectroscopy experiments conducted on electron beam ion traps.