On the importance of metastable Ne2+(1D2) ions in charge-changing Ne2+-Xe collisions

By the aid of translational spectroscopy the authors have studied the production of Ne + ions in Ne 2+ -Xe collisions with an improved energy resolution (E/ delta E approximately 3000) obtaining a better identification of the reception channels. The interpretation of the spectrum has to be changed as compared with the earlier publication. The spectrum emphasises the importance of Ne 2+ ( 1 D 2 ) ions for both electron capture and transfer ionisation at low collision energies (<1 keV). Within the energy range studied the projectile core is not conserved during the capture reaction. However at higher collision energies the core conservation rule seems to hold better leading to a change of the final-state population of the projectile.