Formation of Magnesium Ions by Charge Transfer

The charge transfer cross sections for several ions in collision with atoms of magnesium to form Mg⁺ have been measured in the energy range 1–500 eV. The ions O⁺, N⁺, ${\mathrm{N}}_2^{+}$ , NO⁺, ${\mathrm{O}}_2^{+}$ , H₂O⁺, H₃O⁺, N₂O⁺, and Mg⁺ have been used. The results obtained are analyzed by considering the possibility of resonant or near resonant processes being responsible for the large cross sections obtained for most processes. When the possibility of resonance‐type mechanisms does not exist, the cross sections are found to be considerably smaller. The effect of metastable states present in the primary ion beam on the charge transfer cross section is examined. Extrapolation of the measured cross sections to thermal energies has also been performed.