Ionizing collisions of potassium atoms with molecules: Excitation energy of the product molecular ion

For processes of the type K + M

K⁺ + M^? at eV collision energies, measurements are reported of the population of excited states of the product negative ions. For M = Br₂ and SF₆ only a small excitation (0.5 – 3 eV) is found. For M = O₂, the products can be excited up to higher energies (? 5 eV); this is ascribed to a second electronic channel of the process.