Electron capture and loss in collisions of 100- to 500-keV oxygen in molecular hydrogen

Absolute cross sections for single-electron capture and single- and multiple-electron loss by 100- to 500-keV oxygen atoms and ions in collision with H 2 gas molecules have been measured. The charge-state distribution of the fast beam emerging from the target cell was measured by electrostatic separation of the various components and subsequent counting by a secondary-emission, position- sensitive detector. Cross sections were determined from non-equilibrium charge-state distributions by a least-squares technique.