State-Selective Electron Capture by He 2+ Ions from Laser-Excited Na*(3 p )

State-selective single-electron capture in slow (1.5 keV/a.m.u.) collisions of He 2+ ions with laser-excited Na*(3 p ) atoms has been investigated by means of translational energy spectroscopy. Laser-prepared excitation of the target atoms changes drastically in the final-state distribution of the electron capture process as compared to the ground-state target atoms. For the excited Na*(3 p ) target atoms strong enhancement has been found for capture into He + ( n = 4) and He + ( n = 5) states, while capture into He + ( n = 3) ( i.e. the dominant final state for capture from Na(3 s )) decreased significantly.