Study of resonant charge transfer

Abstract

Experimental measurements ol N₂ resonant charge transfer cross sections were performed. It was found that the energy of electrons used to produce the N₂⁺ ions is an important variable with respect to cross section. An examination of the experimental precision was performed and it was found that the precision of measurement was insufficient to determine the exact form of this relationship. The effect of ion energy (collisional energy) was too small to be seen. Modulated detection was used to improve precision and permit measurement at high noise levels. A description of the apparatus is provided. Consideration of other systems and the suitability of their resonant charge transfer reactions for experimental investigation is discussed. Various theoretical models for estimation of cross section were examined.