The production of high Rydberg states of the projectile in collisions of 0.1 MeV/u Ag4+ ions with Ar gas targets

Author

Brian Fitzgerald Hasson

Date of Award

12-1991

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Physics

Major Professor

Marianne Breinig

Committee Members

Lee Riedinger, Stu Elston

Abstract

This experiment concerns the study of inelastic processes at intermediate collision velocities which produce high Rydberg states of the projectile ion. We investigate the production processes which create these highly excited states for 0.1 MeV/u Ag⁴⁺ ions colliding with an argon gas target by detecting stripped Rydberg electrons in coincidence with exit core charge states, 3+, 4+, 5+, and 6+ of the projectile ion.

The goal of this experiment is to measure the Rydberg electron production cross sections for projectile Rydberg electrons with energies lying in specified energy intervals. The production cross sections are measured for target electron capture to high Rydberg states of the projectile with and without an additional bound state capture, and for projectile electron excitation to high Rydberg states with and without additional projectile electron ionization. production cross sections for these events are used to determine if the n-state distribution of these high Rydberg states depends on the production process. Field ionization techniques are used to strip the Rydberg electrons from the cores of the projectile ions, and standard coincidence methods are employed to determine if a detected Rydberg electron is stripped from a particular ion.

The Rydberg electron production cross sections per unit iv energy interval are found to be on the order of 10^-17 cm²/eV. The production cross section ratios per unit energy interval for electrons stripped from the highest lying Rydberg states compared to electrons stripped from somewhat lower lying Rydberg states are found to be noticeably different for capture processes as opposed to excitation processes. Thus, the n-state distribution of these Rydberg electrons depends on the production mechanisms, i.e. it is different for Rydberg states that are formed by target electron capture events than for Rydberg states that are formed by projectile electron excitation events. However, no dependence of the n-state distribution on the number of active electrons involved in the production process is found.

Recommended Citation

Hasson, Brian Fitzgerald, "The production of high Rydberg states of the projectile in collisions of 0.1 MeV/u Ag4+ ions with Ar gas targets. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1991.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/12423