Single-Collision Production of Quasimolecular X Rays in Heavy-Ion Encounters

Remarkably large quasimolecular (molecular orbital) K-shell x-ray yields are found in 48-MeV S{→} Ne encounters, unequivocally indicating that production of molecular-orbital x-rays can occur as a result of single-collision mechanisms. Gaseous and solid targets are found to give similar spectral shapes of the emitted continuum radiation.