Charge Exchange for H+ and H2+ in H2O, CO2, and NH3

Abstract

Differential charge‐exchange cross sections have been measured for H2 + and H+ incident on H2O, CO2, and NH3 in the incident ion energy range 30–500 eV. From retarding‐potential and magnetic‐deflection measurements the energy of the product ions was determined to be near thermal for all the systems. This is consistent with the narrow angular distribution of product ions and the observed asymmetry of the differential cross sections in the laboratory frame. Total cross sections were calculated from the differential results and compared with earlier measurements. Mechanisms for charge exchange for these systems are discussed in terms of the results.