Equilibrium convoy electron production and charge exchange

RatiosN _2s /N _3p of 2s to 3p populations in hydrogen atoms formed by the passage of protons through carbon foils have been measured using the beam-foil-laser excitation method reported very recently. No dependence ofN _2s /N _3p on the incident proton energyE _p , in the 100–300 keV energy range analysed, is observed. From the ratioN _3p /N _2p of 3p to 2p beam-foil populations in hydrogen reported previously (N _3p /N _2p independent ofE _p forE _p >100 keV) and the ratiosN _2s /N _3p measured in the present work, a mean value ofN _2s /N _2p equal to 0.61±0.04 is deduced. These results are compared with available experimental data.