C. C. Havener

Charge Transfer in Collisions of C+ with H and H+ with C

Charge transfer rate coefficients for collisions of C+ with H and H+ with C are presented for temperatures from 30,000 to 107 K and from 10 to 107 K, respectively. The rate coefficients were calculated from recommended cross sections deduced in a recent theoretical and experimental investigation that took into account previous measurements. Nonadiabatic radial coupling is the dominant mechanism for both reactions above ~50,000 K, but for lower temperatures the reaction of H+ with C proceeds primarily by radiative charge transfer. Implications, due to the magnitude of the rate coefficients, for various astrophysical environments are discussed.

Charge exchange processes between highly charged ions and metal surfaces

Abstract The interaction of highly charged ions with metal surfaces causes the emission of secondary electrons. Energy spectra of the emitted electrons reveal, for sufficiently high charge states of the projectile, the occurence of Auger deexcitation projectile inner shell vacancies brought into the interaction as well inter-atomic charge exchange processes leading to the emission of target Auger electrons.

Three-step resonant photoionization spectroscopy of Ni and Ge : ionization potential and odd-parity Rydberg levels

In preparation of a laser ion source, we have investigated multi-step laser ionization via Rydberg and autoionizing states for atomic Ni and Ge using a mass separator with an ion beam energy of 20 keV. For both elements resonant three-step excitation schemes suitable for modern Ti:sapphire laser systems were developed. Rydberg series in the range of principal quantum numbers 20 n 80 were localized, assigned and quantum numbers were allocated to the individual resonances. Ionization potentials (IP) were extracted from fits of the individual series and quantum defects of individual levels were analysed for confirmation of series assignment. For Ni the ionization potential could be extracted with significantly increased precision compared to literature with a value of EIP (Ni) = 61 619.77(14) cm −1 . Also, at least one notable autoionizing state above the first IP was discovered for both elements, and the different ionization schemes via Rydberg or autoionizing states were compared with respect to line shape, ionization efficiency and selectivity.

Electron capture in collisions of with H and with C

A comprehensive theoretical and experimental study of electron capture in collisions of with H and with C extending over the energy range to is presented. A variety of theoretical approaches were used including those based on quantal molecular-orbital close-coupling (MOCC), multielectron hidden crossings (MEHC), quantal decay and classical trajectory Monte Carlo techniques. Radiative charge transfer cross sections were computed using the optical potential/distorted wave (OPDW) and fully quantal (FQ) approaches. The MOCC, OPDW and FQ calculations incorporated ab initio potentials, nonadiabatic coupling matrix elements and transition moments computed at the configuration-interaction level. Ab initio potential surfaces in the plane of complex internuclear distance were obtained for the MEHC calculations. Merged-beam measurements were performed between and for the collision system. Diagnostics of the beam with a crossed electron beam could find no presence of a metastable component. The current results, in conjunction with previous measurements, are used to deduce a set of recommended cross sections.

Nearly Complete Isobar Suppression by Photodetachment

The efficiency of selective suppression of negative ions by photodetachment in a gas-filled radio frequency quadrupole ion cooler was investigated with a new detection method. A neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser beam at 1064 nm was used to remove Co− ions in the radio frequency quadrupole cooler and the remaining ions were then probed by photodetachment and neutral particle detection. More than 99.99% suppression of the Co− ions was observed. Under identical conditions, only 20% of a Ni− beam was suppressed. The results demonstrate that this isobar suppression technique can lead to nearly complete elimination of certain isobaric contaminants in negative ion beams, opening up new experimental possibilities in nuclear and atomic research and accelerator mass spectrometry.

Resonant Ionization Laser Ion Source for Radioactive Ion Beams

A resonant ionization laser ion source based on all‐solid‐state, tunable Ti:Sapphire lasers is being developed for the production of pure radioactive ion beams. It consists of a hot‐cavity ion source and three pulsed Ti:Sapphire lasers operating at a 10 kHz pulse repetition rate. Spectroscopic studies are being conducted to develop ionization schemes that lead to ionizing an excited atom through an auto‐ionization or a Rydberg state for numerous elements of interest. Three‐photon resonant ionization of 12 elements has been recently demonstrated. The overall efficiency of the laser ion source measured for some of these elements ranges from 1 to 40%. The results indicate that Ti:Sapphire lasers could be well suited for laser ion source applications. The time structures of the ions produced by the pulsed lasers are investigated. The information may help to improve the laser ion source performance.

Ion production from solid state laser ion sources.

Laser ion sources based on resonant excitation and ionization of atoms are well-established tools for selective and efficient production of radioactive ion beams. Recent developments are focused on the use of the state-of-the-art all solid-state laser systems. To date, 35 elements of the periodic table are available from laser ion sources based on tunable Ti:sapphire lasers. Recent progress in this field regarding the establishment of suitable optical excitation schemes for Ti:sapphire lasers are reported.

Emittance characterization of a hot-cavity laser ion source at Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility

The first investigation of the transverse emittance of a hot-cavity laser ion source based on all-solid-state Ti:sapphire lasers is presented. The emittances of (63)Cu ion beams generated by three-photon resonant ionization are measured and compared with that of the (69)Ga and (39)K ion beams resulting from surface ionization in the same ion source. A self-consistent unbiased elliptical exclusion method is adapted for noise reduction and emittance analysis. Typical values of the rms and 90% fractional emittances of the Cu ion beams at 20 keV energy are found to be about 2 and 8 pi mm mrad, respectively, for the ion currents of 2-40 nA investigated. The emittances of the laser-produced Cu ion beams are smaller than those of the surface-ionized Ga and K ion beams.

Depletion of the excited state population in negative ions using laser photodetachment in a gas-filled RF quadrupole ion guide

The depopulation of excited states in beams of negatively charged carbon and silicon ions was demonstrated using collisional detachment and laser photodetachment in a radio-frequency quadrupole ion guide filled with helium. The high-lying, loosely bound 2D excited state in C− was completely depleted through collisional detachment alone, which was quantitatively determined within 6%. For Si− the combined signal from the population in the 2P and 2D excited states was only partly depleted through collisions in the cooler. The loosely bound 2P state was likely to be completely depopulated, and the more tightly bound 2D state was partly depopulated through collisions. 98(2)% of the remaining 2D population was removed by photodetachment in the cooler using less than 2 W laser power. The total reduction of the excited population in Si−, including collisional detachment and photodetachment, was estimated to be 99(1)%. Employing this novel technique to produce a pure ground state negative ion beam offers possibilities of enhancing selectivity, as well as accuracy, in high-precision experiments on atomic as well as molecular negative ions.

Collisions of highly charged ions with electrons, atoms and surfaces

At the Oak Ridge Multicharged Ion Source Facility, an experimental atomic collisions physics program is centered around a recently upgraded Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) multicharged ion source. The 10 GHz CAPRICE source has been in operation since October 22, 1992, and has provided more intense, higher charge ion beams than our previous ECR ion source. Intense metallic beams have recently become available with the installation of a metallic oven on the source. In addition to measurements of electron-impact excitation, carried out in collaboration with the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), experiments are presently on-line to study electron-impact ionization, low-energy ion-atom collisions, and ion-surface interactions. A brief summary of our various activities with an emphasis on the new capabilities is presented.