Relative Charge Transfer Efficiencies of ²P3/2 and ²P1/2 Rare-Gas Ions in Their Own Gases

Photoionization as a source of ions was successfully used to determine relative efficiencies σ( J =1/2)/σ( J =3/2) for the different spin-orbit states 2 P 1/2 and 2 P 3/2 of primary ions in the symmetric charge transfer reactions of Ar + –Ar, Kr + –Kr and Xe + –Xe. The relative population of each state in the primary ion beams was estimated form previous data obtained by the energy analysis of photoelectrons. A 1/2 m Seya type vacuum-uv monochromator was used in conjunction with a hollow cathode discharge tube as a light source. For Kr and Xe the ratio σ( J =1/2)/σ( J =3/2) was 0.87 and 0.82 respectively at 400 eV, which increased with the incident ion energy to 0.96 and 0.88 respectively at 2000 eV, whereas for Ar the ratio was 1.05 at 1000 eV and 0.99 at 2000 eV. Discussion of the values and energy dependences of the ratios σ( J =1/2)/σ( J =3/2) is given.