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.