Charge Equilibrium of Energetic Heavy Ions in Gaseous Media (Ideal Atomic Hydrogen Gas)

The charge distribution and its mean values for incident heavy ions are investigated theoretically, the incident heavy ions being treated as they impact and penetrate in an ideal atomic hydrogen gas. The charge on the ions is determined by the equilibrium between electron loss from the ions and electron capture from hydrogen to the ions. Assuming a local balance for eletron loss and capture, the charge distribution, the average equilibrium charge, the distribution width, and the asymmetry parameter (skewness) are obtained as functions of the incident velocity. In the estimation of the loss and capture cross-sections, some simplification has been made. The scaling law on the above quantities with respect to the atomic number of the incident particles is derived. Practical calculations have been carried out for C, Ne, Ar, Kr, I, and U ions in atomic hydrogen.