Electron Capture byNe10+Trapped at Very Low Energies

An electrostatic ion trap was used to trap ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{q+} (1\mathrm{}<~q<~10)$ ions created by a fast xenon beam passing through neon gas. Exponential decay in time of the ${\mathrm{Ne}}^{10+}$ fraction due to electron capture from neon gas was observed and the decay rates measured. For mean kinetic energies between 7-45 eV, the total electron-capture cross section (${\sigma }_{\mathrm{ec}}$) is found to be velocity independent. For this energy range we obtain ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{ec}}\left({\mathrm{Ne}}^{10+}\right)=2.4\mathrm{}\times {10}^{-15\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$, with an estimated uncertainty of 30%.