Ion-Molecular-Ion Collisions

C.Y. Chen
Argonne National Laboratory

F. Melchert
Justus-Liebig-Universität

We investigate the electron capture reaction H₂⁺ + He²⁺ - H⁺ + H⁺ + He⁺ at keV collision energies. In particular we are looking for the effect of the alignment of the H₂⁺ molecular ion on the capture cross section. This collision system is a true one-electron system and the experimental data should provide a stringent test of theoretical calculations.

The experiment will be performed at the ion-ion collision facility at KSU. The He²⁺ ions will be produced in an 5 GHz ECR ion source while the H₂⁺ molecular ions come from a PIG ion source. The two protons emerging from the capture reaction will have scattering angles up to a few degrees. An imaging lens will be added immediately following the collision region to project both protons onto a position sensitive detector with a fast anode. SIMION simulations of this setup have shown that all three momentum components of both protons may be extracted through the two-dimensional position information and the flight times of each of the particles.

This is a work in progress and results to date will be reported.

Supported by the Division of Chemical Sciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy.

 

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