Excitation of bands of the first negative system of the N 2 + ion in collisions of N+ and O+ ions with N2 molecules

Absolute values of the excitation cross sections of the (0,0) bands [for O⁺(⁴ S), O⁺(² P)-N₂ pairs] and the (0,0), (0,1), (1,2), and (2,3) bands [for N⁺(³ P)-N₂ pairs] of the first negative system of the N ₂ ⁺ ion have been measured in collisions with nitrogen molecules of nitrogen and oxygen ions in the ground state and in a metastable state in the interval of ion energies 1–10 keV. The process of excitation of the (0,0) band of the first negative system of the N ₂ ⁺ ion by oxygen ions in the metastable ² P state is of a quasi-resonant character. The presence in the beam of ions in metastable states was monitored by measuring the excitation efficiency of the (0,0) band λ3914 Å of the N ₂ ⁺ ion in different operating regimes of the highfrequency ion source. For N⁺ ions in the ³ P ground state, as the collision frequency is decreased the relative vibrational population of the v′=1 and v′=2 levels of the B ²Σ _u ⁺ state of the N ₂ ⁺ ion is observed to deviate strongly from the value calculated in the Franck-Condon model.     

Interaction of trapped metastable excited He atoms with solid noble gases,Ne, Ar and Kr,investigated by EPR

Local metastable excited states are found in Ne, Ar and Kr cryocrystals as He gas-discharge products are trapped in the growing cryocrystals. These states are detected by EPR and are interpreted as being local metastable excitednp⁵(n+1)s³P₂ atomic-type states in Ne, Ar and Kr cryocrystals. Analysis of the results allows the following explanation of the observed effect to be given. For the Ne cryocrystal the effect is interpreted as a new phenomenon: quasi-resonance transfer of excitation energy from the metastable He 2³S₁ atom trapped in a growing neon cryocrystal to the exciton energy band of the neon crystal followed by the exciton self-trapping into the 2p⁵3p state and subsequent decay, ending in the 2p⁵3s³P₂ state recorded by EPR in our experiment. In the case of Ar and Kr cryocrystals the effect is explained as being due to an internal ionization of the cryocrystals by the excitation energy of trapped metastable He atoms, which implies the formation in the cryocrytal of a Rg⁺ ion and a free electron in the conduction band, whereupon the fast (of 10^?12 s) self-trapping reaction of a hole follows: Rg⁺+Rg→Rg ₂ ⁺ . Thereafter the dissociative recombination reaction Rg ₂ ⁺ +e→Rg ₂ ^** →Rg+Rg*(³P₂) could take place.     

The production and loss ofN 2 + ions in the nitrogen afterglow

The time dependence of the number density of nitrogen ions was studied in the pressure range of about 0.1 to 1.7 Torr by means of mass spectrometric probing of decaying nitrogen plasmas. The analysis of theN ₂ ⁺ decay curves showed thatN ₂ ⁺ ions are produced in the afterglow by collisions between metastable nitrogen molecules. Energy level and radiative lifetime considerations indicate that one of the metastable molecules is in thea′ ¹∑ _u ^} state, while the other metastable molecule may be in the same state or in theA ³∑ _u ⁺ or³ Δ _u state. The surface catalytic efficiency for de-excitation of the metastable molecules involved upon striking the molybdenum covered plasma container walls was estimated to be smaller than 2×10^?3 at a pressure of 0.09 Torr. If both interacting metastable molecules are in the a′¹ bE _u ^} state the measurements result in a value of 1.3×10^?18 cm² for the cross section for destruction of this state by collisions with ground state nitrogen molecules.     

Dissociative charge exchange in collisions of 10keV H 2 + ions on H2, He,and Ar targets

The velocity distributions of H-H fragment pairs arising from dissociative collisions of 10keV H ₂ ⁺ ions incident on H₂, He, and Ar were measured using a flight-time-difference method. The H ₂ ⁺ ions were produced in an electron impact ion source at two different electron energies, at 100eV and 18eV. The influence of the electron energy on the fragment velocity distributions is studied. Conclusions are drawn on the processes which lead to the formation of neutral fragment pairs. Electron capture into the repulsive b³ Σ _u ⁺ state of H₂ plays a dominant role.     

Collision-induced dissociation of H 2 + ions into the fragmentations H+H(2p) and H++H(2p)

Using a photon-particle delayed coincidence method the energy distributions of H +H(2p) and H⁺+H(2p) fragment pairs have been measured arising from collisional dissociation of 10 keV H ₂ ⁺ ions incident on various target gases. H fragments in their 2p state are identified by the Lymanα radiation emitted. The distribution of H+H(2p) fragment pairs arising from dissociative charge exchange reveals a sharp increase below 0.2 eV in the center-of-mass frame of the H ₂ ⁺ ion. This is ascribed to predissociation of vibrational levels of higher H₂ Rydberg states close above then=2 dissociation limit by those H₂ Rydberg states which separate into H+H(2p) fragments. Only direct transitions into the continuum of theGK ¹ ∑ _g ⁺ state may compete. Some structure at 0.3–0.5 eV is attributed to the three statesI ¹ П _g,i ³ П _g, andh ³ bE _g ⁺ having potential barriers of this height. The distributions for H⁺+H(2p) have maxima at 3.4, 3.8, and 4.2 eV for a H₂, Ar, and He target, respectively, indicating that the 2pπ _u state as well as the 3dσ _g state ofH ₂ ⁺ is excited. The H+H(2p) process has a greater probability than the H⁺+H(2p) process for Ar and H₂ targets, though all electronic H₂ states under consideration are bound.     

Near resonance charge transfer from a laser excited donor state

A laser induced charge transfer from Na(3p) to hydrogen-ions at different kinetic energies has been studied. An enhancement factor of about 90% in the production rate of Lyman-α radiation has been demonstrated to occur only with H⁺ and Na(3p) atoms reaction; no enhancement was observed with either H ₂ ⁺ or H ₃ ⁺ ions. Absolute cross-section for the production of Lyman-α radiation during the collision of H⁺, H ₂ ⁺ and H ₃ ⁺ ions and Na(3p) and Na(3s) atoms have been measured in the energy range 1–600eV. The charge exchange reactions involving hydrogen-ions and Na(3p) atoms created by two different methods have also been compared.     

Relative Anfangsbesetzungszahlen der Zustände 2p und 3d folienangeregter Wasserstoffatome

The Lyman-α radiation of fast moving hydrogen atoms excited by a thin carbon foil is measured using a channel electron multiplier with a Mg F₂ filter. The photonintensity-versus-distance curve exhibits the 2p (1.596 ns) decay followed by a cascade tail originating mainly from the 3d level (15.47 ns). The data is analyzed by a computer program using the known mean lives of the 2p, 3d, and 3s states and yields the relative initial state populationY=N _2p ⁰ N _{3 d} ⁰ which depends on the kind of incident ions (H⁺ or H₂ ⁺). For H₂ ⁺ ions, excited with a single foil, there might be a slight dependence ofY on the beam velocity, but for H⁺ ions incident on the foil, no such dependence is found.     

Transitions between Rydberg states of diatomic molecules in slow collisions with atoms

A close analytic representation has been found for the Green function of highly excited diatomic molecule in the framework of the multichannel quantum defect method. This expression has been used to describe the potential energy surfaces of the quasi-molecule X ₂ ^* +A. The specific behaviour of the terms of this system has been studied as a function of the angular orientation of the moleculeX ₂ and of the distanceR between the molecule and atomA. The terms have been found to have quasi-crossings responsible for the transitions when particles suffer collision. Some terms located near the continuous spectrum boundary, when the distance varies, cross the spectrum boundary and pass into auto-ionization state. Calculations have been made for the system H ₂ ^* +B, whereB is an inert gas atom. Cross-sections of the vibrational transitions occurring under slow atom-molecule collisions have been evaluated.     

Ionization and dissociative ionization of methane molecules

A technique for mass-spectrometric investigation of the yield of positive ions produced by direct and electron-impact dissociative ionization of methane molecules is described, and respective experimental data are presented. Doubly charged C ₂ ⁺ , CH ₃ ²⁺ , and CH ₄ ²⁺ ions, as well as singly charged D ₂ ⁺ , CD ₃ ⁺ , and CD ₄ ⁺ ions, are detected in the mass spectrum of a methane molecule at electron energy U _e = 90 eV for the first time. From ionization efficiency curves, the ionization energy of the parent molecule and the appearance energy of fragment ions are determined. The ionization energy of the CH₄ molecule is found to be 12.62 ± 0.20 eV. Electron-molecular reactions that may take place when a low-energy electron beam interacts with a methane molecule are analyzed. The ionization process and the formation of methane molecule fragments are studied.     

Strong optical fields induce ultrafast rearrangement of H-atoms in ethanol molecules

H-atoms in C₂H₅OH are rearranged by strong optical fields generated by intense, 100 fs long infrared laser pulses to form new bonds that lead to the H ₃ ⁺ molecular ion. This observation appears to be against the expectation that exposure of molecules to intensities of the order of 10¹⁵ W cm^?2 inevitably lead to multiple ionization of molecules followed by instantaneous Coulomb explosion into fragments. The polarization dependence of the H ₃ ⁺ signal and of the energy content of H ₃ ⁺ ions lead to believe that H-atom rear-rangement in ethanol occurs within a single 100 fs pulse.     

Stoßdissoziation von H 2 + - und D 2 + -Ionen

The angular and energy distribution of protons produced by collision-induced dissociations of H ₂ ⁺ ions with energies of 10 and 20 keV were measured in a parabola spectrograph. From these measurements the velocity distribution of the protons in the center of mass system of the H ₂ ⁺ ion can be calculated. This gives information about the type, the abundance, and the anisotropy of the processes involved. The most frequent transitions leading to dissociations are the excitation of the 2pσ_u state, the ionisation of the H ₂ ⁺ ion, the transition into the vibrational continuum, and the electron capture into the 1³ σ _u ⁺ state of the hydrogen. It is shown that the cross section for an electronic transition depends on the velocity of the ion, the distance of the nuclei in the ion, the angle between the internuclear axis and the direction of the primary ion beam, and the excitation energy of the target. The fraction of protons produced by vibrational excitation increases with increasing atomic number of the target. Concerning electronic transitions D ₂ ⁺ ions equal H ₂ ⁺ ions of the same velocity.     

Collision-induced dissociation of H 3 + ions

For collision energies between 100 and 500 eV the collision induced dissociation of H ₃ ⁺ colliding with H₂, He and Kr gas targets was measured. We obtained total cross sections and angular distributions of the charged collision fragments for the main reaction channels. H ₃ ⁺ +H₂→H⁺+2H² and H ₃ ⁺ +H₂→H ₂ ⁺ +H₂+H. An analysis of the kinetics yields that the dissociation proceeds via vibrational-rotational excitation of H ₃ ⁺ by mutually induced dipolmoments.     

Fragmentation of polyatomic ions produced by electron-loss collisions of butane and isobutane molecules with ions of kiloelectronvolt energy

Fragmentation accompanying the loss of electrons by butane and isobutane (C₄H₁₀) molecules in collisions with energy H⁺, He²⁺, and Ar⁶⁺ ions of kiloelectronvolt energies is studied. The electron density functional technique is applied to C _n H_2n+2 alkane molecules and their respective C _n H _2n+2 ⁺ ions to carry out quantum-chemical calculations of the atomic spacing, electron total energy for the initial configuration of the ionizing molecules and ions in the ground state, and atomic bond breaking energy necessary to produce different ion fragments. The fragmentation energy is correlated with the fragmentation probability. It is shown that the relative cross sections of ion fragmentation depend primarily on the related energy consumption. However, the process cross section is also strongly affected by the initial configuration of C₄H₁₀ isomer molecules, as well as by the amount of dangling and arising atomic bonds involved in the formation of each ion fragment.     

Collisional and radiative processes with participation of highly excited states of atoms and molecules

A number of processes in which highly excited states of atoms and molecules participate are investigated. These processes are of interest for the kinetics of a low-temperature plasma, for atomic and molecular spectroscopy, and for astrophysics. A quasiclassical theory is developed for transitions between Rydberg states with change of the principal quantum number, and also for the processes of direct and associative ionization of highly excited atoms, which result from collisions between a neutral particle and its atomic core. The state of the inner electrons of a quasimolecular (molecular) ion is not altered by transitions of the outer electrons. Specific calculations are carried out for the case of the collision of hydrogen H(n) with helium He (1s²) atoms. It is shown that the cross sections and the rate constants of these processes are determined in this case by the mechanism investigated in the paper, and not by scattering of the Rydberg electron by the neutral particle. The cross sections for dipole excitation and dissociation of molecular ions from high vibrational energy levels by electron impact is calculated in the Born-Coulomb approximation. The cross sections and the rates of dissociative and three-particle attachment of electrons to ions are determined. The processes of autoionization and autodissociation decay of Rydberg states of vibrationally excited molecules are determined. Also investigated are radiative transitions near the dissociation limit of diatomic molecular ions and neutral molecules, viz., photodissociation and radiative decay of high vibrational levels, and photodissociation and translational (inverse-bremsstrahlung) absorption in collision of atomic particles.Translated from Trudy Ordena Lenina Fizicheskogo Instituta im. P. Lebedeva AN SSSR, Vol. 145, pp. 80–130, 1984.     

The holographic bubble chamber experiment and the determination of the effective charmed quark mass and theK-factor for hadronic charm production

In the first holographic bubble chamber experiment — the HOBC experiment — we have accumulated a total of 40000 holograms with particle interactions. We have determined the total charm pair cross section inpN collisions to be 23.3 _?7.7 ⁺¹⁰ μb and 3.6 _?1.7 ^+2.3 μb for 360 and 200 GeV/c incident protons respectively. We have assumed a linear dependence of the cross section on the atomic number of the target. This experiment has demonstrated the feasibility of holographic recording in small bubble chambers. Assuming that the charm cross section can be described by the standard QCD factorized expression with gluon fusion and quark-antiquark annihilation, we have used our measured charm cross sections with other measurements to determine the effective charmed quark mass to be 1.8 _?0.35 ^+0.25 GeV/c². TheK factor, which describes the importance of the higher order corrections, is calculated to be 9.8 _?6.9 ^+12.5 (See noted added in proof.)     

The H—H+, H+—H+ and H—H fragmentation in the collision-induced dissociation of H 2 + ions

The collision-induced dissociation of 10 keV H ₂ ⁺ ions incident on H₂ has been studied in this paper. Total cross sections and angle distributions for the H⁺-H, H⁺-H⁺ and H-H fragmentations are given. Distributions over both angle and velocity have been measured for the H-H⁺ and H-H fragmentation.     

Center-of-mass deflections in two processes: Collision-induced dissociations of 10 keV H 2 + ions in their electronic ground state 1sσ g and dissociative electron capture

By means of a flight-time difference apparatus the two collision induced processes of dissociative vibrational excitations $$H_2^ + (10keV,1s\sigma _g ) + target \to (H_2^ + )*(1s\sigma _g ) \to H^ + + H(1s)$$ and $$H_2^ + (10keV,1s\sigma _g ) + target \to (H_2 )*(unspecified) \to H + H$$ have been determined from an asymmetry in the lab-frame resulting from deflections of the centers-of-mass of the incident projectiles. H⁺+H velocity distributions from vibrational excitations of the electronic ground state of the H ₂ ⁺ ions will be presented which have been directly measured. Competition of any of the higher lying electronically excited states of the projectiles is estimated to be negligible. In the case of dissociative electron capture combined with simultaneous deflections of the centers-of-mass the electronic states of the intermediate H₂ molecules and of the H fragments could not be specified.     

COLTRAP: a 22-pole ion trapping machine for spectroscopy at 4 K

Two similar 4 K 22-pole trapping machines have been recently completed in our laboratory. As a first experimental test in one of them, CH ₅ ⁺ and H₃O⁺ ions have been trapped in the presence of helium gas at 3.8 K and the kinetics and temperature dependence of He tagging investigated. A first shell closure with 5 and (3 + 2) attached He atoms, respectively, is observed for both species. Applying IR radiation in the 3 μm region, helium attachment to CH ₅ ⁺ is hindered by exciting CH-stretches of CH ₅ ⁺ prior to attachment. The resulting spectroscopic signal shows that the kinetic temperature of the stored CH ₅ ⁺ ensemble is below 12 K.     

Production and loss of N2 + ions during the decay period of plasmas produced in helium-nitrogen mixtures

The time dependence of the number density of N₂ ⁺ ions during the decay period of plasmas produced in helium containing 0.05, 0.17 and 0.5 percent nitrogen was studied in the pressure range from about 0.3 to 7 Torr by means of mass spectrometer techniques. During the early part of the afterglow period the time dependence of N₂ ⁺ is controlled by ambipolar diffusion loss towards the plasma container walls. The product of the ambipolar diffusion coefficientD _a and the reduced pressurep ₀ wasD _ap₀=900± 50 cm² Torr/sec. The production of N₂ ⁺ by collisions between metastable nitrogen molecules determines the temporal behavior of the N₂ ⁺ density during the late afterglow for extremely pure discharge conditions. From the data it follows that the metastable molecules involved are de-excited by collisions with ground state helium atoms with a rate constant of 3.4 × 10^?15 cm³ sec^?1, while the radiative lifetime of these metastable molecules is at least 20 msec. The surface catalytic efficiency for de-excitation upon striking the molybdenum covered plasma container walls was estimated to be smaller than 10^?3. Energy and radiative lifetime requirements suggest that N₂ ⁺ is produced during the plasma decay period by the process N₂ (a′¹ Σ _u ^? )+N₂ (a′¹σ _u ^? →N₂ ⁺ (X²Σ _u ⁺ )+N₂(X)+e.     

Features of the variation in reflection spectra of the F4MB/Al coating under bombardment by H+, H 2 + and H 3 + ions

Variations of reflection spectra for the F4MB/Al coating, based on fluoroplastic film, occurring under bombardment by H⁺, H ₂ ⁺ , and H ₃ ⁺ , ions with energy 15 keV are investigated. It is established that the variations in the reflection spectra and integrated absorption coefficient are not proportional to the mass of the hydrogen ion and obey the different regularities depending on the energy of the absorption band.