Interaction of fast neutral helium atoms with an electron beam and with atoms of a gas target

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Opt. Spectrosc. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:6781759

Gostev, V A; Elakhovskii, D V; Zaitsev, Y V; Luizova, L A; Khakhaev, A D

An experimental apparatus for studying electron-atom and atom-atom collisions in intersecting beams and also during passage of a beam through a cell containing a gas is described. Results of studies of certain processes of interaction of a beam of fast helium atoms with electrons and helium atoms are presented. Estimates are made of the loss cross section of fast atoms of the beam, (7.3 +- 1.5) x 10/sup -17/ cm/sup 2/, and cross sections for excitation transfer between the atoms He(3/sup 3/D), He(1/sup 1/S)-2 x 10/sup -15/ cm/sup 2/, at a beam energy of 1200 eV. Functions of stepwise excitation of the 3/sup 3/P, 3/sup 3/D, 4/sup 3/D, and 3/sup 1/P levels from the He(2/sup 3/S) state are given. The excitation of spectral lines in the prethreshold region of electron energies is explained by the mechanism of dissociative recombination of molecular ions of helium, a recombination whose cross section decreases in proportion to E/sup -4/ in the range of electron energies E=1.5--10 eV.

• OSTI ID: 6781759
• Journal Information: Opt. Spectrosc. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Opt. Spectrosc. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 48:3; ISSN OPSUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ATOM COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
KEV RANGE
KEV RANGE 01-10
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
RECOMBINATION