Precision measurements of cross sections of inelastic processes realized in collisions of alkali metal ions with atoms of rare gases

TL;DR

This study provides detailed experimental measurements of various inelastic collision cross sections for Na+ and K+ ions with He and Ar atoms, enhancing understanding of collision mechanisms in atomic physics.

Contribution

It offers new precise measurements of charge-exchange, ionization, stripping, and excitation cross sections for alkali metal ions colliding with rare gas atoms, using advanced experimental techniques.

Findings

Measured absolute cross sections for multiple inelastic processes.

Analyzed collision mechanisms using experimental data and correlation diagrams.

Provided detailed energy and angle dependence of collision outcomes.

Abstract

This work presents a multifaceted experimental study of collisions of Na$^{+}$ and K$^{+}$ ions in the energy range 0.5 -- 10 keV with He and Ar atoms. Absolute cross sections for charge-exchange, ionization, stripping and excitation were measured using a refined version of the transfer electric field method, angle- and energy-dependent collection of product ions, energy loss, and optical spectroscopy. The experimental data and the schematic correlation diagrams have been employed to analyze and determine the mechanisms for these processes.