Charge transfer reactions of ground C+(2P) and excited C+(4P) state ions with neutral molecules

Total charge transfer cross sections have been measured for the reactions of 0.7–2.5 keV C+(2P) and C+(4P) ions with Ar, H2, N2, CO, CO2, and O2. Time-of-flight techniques have been used to measure the fast neutral C0 products from charge transfer reactions. These reactions have been examined as a function of the electron energy used to produce the reactant ions and reaction cross sections determined for ground C+(2P) and excited C+(4P) state ions. Reactant C+ beams have been produced by controlled electron impact ionization of carbon monoxide. The cross sections for charge transfer reactions involving the excited C+(4P) ions are significantly larger than the corresponding reactions of ground state ions.