Direct observation of the initial-state distribution of the first electron transferred to slow highly charged ions interacting with a metal surface

• The electron transfer process in the interaction of a slow highlycharged ion with a metal surface has been studied employing amicrocapillary foil as a target. The combination of the target and avisible light spectroscopy allows us to directly evaluate the initial(n,ℓ) distributions of the first transferred electrons. It wasfound that observed lines were primarily attributed to Δn=1transitions with relatively high angular momenta ( ℓi≳4 ) . A cascade analysis revealed that the electron is selectivelytransferred to n≈ qin +1 states with a narrowdistribution width of δn≈2 (full width at half maximum). Theaverage initial principal quantum number is consistent with theprediction of the classical over-barrier model.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

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