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![]() AMOC Seminar, 2007-08
Charge transfer by multi-charged ions from neutrals is characterized by large cross sections, on the order of 10-14 to 10-16 cm2, and is therefore important in many types of plasmas including those found in magnetic fusion and astrophysics. Our current ability to reliably predict low energy (meV/u - keV/u) collision processes relies on our understanding of the dynamics and our ability to model the quasi-molecular states formed during collisions. The ion-atom merged-beams apparatus together with the intense ion beams made available from ECR ion sources provides a unique opportunity to provide benchmark measurements to test theory. The higher velocity, more intense, and less divergent beams from the new High Voltage Platform at ORNL enable a new class of measurements. Currently we are investigating predicted isotope effects at low energy, where the ion-induced dipole-potential affects the dynamics of the collision process and can lead to significant differences in the cross section for collisions with H and D.
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