Excitation of K and Zn+in collisions with He, Ne and Ar: measurements of K I and Zn II resonance-line emission and polarisation

Abstract
Total emission cross sections and polarisations have been measured for the K I and Zn II 42S-42P multiplet in collisions of 0.7-80 keV K atoms and 1-500 keV Zn+ ions with He, Ne and Ar. The excitation of the projectile resonance multiplet is found to be the dominant inelastic process for all collision systems. Several of the cross sections show structures more complex than those found previously for the similar but lighter Li, Be+, Na, Mg+-rare-gas systems. A high-energy maximum is located as predicted by the Massey criterion. Secondary maxima at lower energies may be large and in some cases exceed the high-energy maximum. For the K-Ar system, the impact-parameter dependence of the excitation probability has been measured for selected impact energies by means of the scattered-particle-photon-coincidence technique. The origin of the observed structures is discussed.

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