Absolute-cross-section measurements for electron-impact ionization of triply charged inert-gas ions: Ne/sup 3 +/, Ar/sup 3 +/, Kr/sup 3 +/, and Xe/sup 3 +/

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.27.724· OSTI ID:6266464

Gregory, D C; Dittner, P F; Crandall, D H

Electron-ion crossed beams have been employed to obtain absolute cross sections for single ionization of Ne/sup 3 +/, Ar/sup 3 +/, Kr/sup 3 +/, and Xe/sup 3 +/. These data reveal a steady progression from excellent agreement with theory and semiempirical formulas for Ne/sup 3 +/ to significant departures from any simple models for Xe/sup 3 +/. For Ar/sup 3 +/ some small departure from the models is apparent and the measurements agree with previous experimental results of Mueller et al. For Kr/sup 3 +/ and Xe/sup 3 +/ the measured cross sections in the energy range below four threshold units exhibit complex structure and exceed estimates of direct ionization by roughly factors of 2 and 3, respectively. These features are attributed to indirect ionization processes involving excitation of inner-shell electrons, and the observed cross-section shapes imply that the excitation-autoionization features cannot be simply attributed to dipole-allowed excitation transitions. Ionization rates for Maxwellian electron-temperature distributions are calculated from the data.

• Research Organization: Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6266464
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 27:2; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ARGON
BOLTZMANN STATISTICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DATA
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ELECTRON-ION COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
INFORMATION
ION COLLISIONS
IONIZATION
IONS
KRYPTON
MULTICHARGED IONS
NEON
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
RARE GASES
XENON