Total cross section measurements for charge exchange of He++ ions with He and Ar atoms

Total charge exchange cross sections were measured for He⁺⁺ in He and Ar gas in the energy range from 50 to 540 eV using a single beam apparatus. For He⁺⁺ in He the measured cross section is in agreement with calculations for symmetric resonant charge exchange. For He⁺⁺ in Ar the cross section for charge exchange decreases with decreasing energy below 300 eV. The measured cross section suggests the formation of Ar⁺ ions to be more important at lower energies and the production of Ar⁺⁺ to be dominant at higher energies.