Search for Fractionally Charged Tungsten Ions

Abstract
A search for W ions having an additional charge of 13e has been conducted, using a Van de Graaff accelerator as an ultrasensitive mass spectrometer. The study investigated masses varying from 182 to 192 amu. No evidence was found for the existence of such ions to a limit of 1 part in 1×1012 over the mass range covered.