"Saddle-point" Ionization

Author

Timothy James Gay, Missouri University of Science and Technology
H. G. Berry
Edward Boyd Hale, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
V. D. Irby
Ronald E. Olson, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

We have studied the ionization of rare gases by protons at intermediate energies, i.e., energies at which the velocities of the proton and the target-gas valence electrons are comparable. A significant channel for electron production in the forward direction is shown to be "saddle-point" ionization, in which electrons are stranded on or near the saddle-point of electric potential between the receding projectile and the ionized target. Such electrons yield characteristic energy spectra, and contribute significantly to forward-electron-production cross sections. Classical trajectory Monte Carlo calculations are found to provide qualitative agreement with our measurements and the earlier measurements of Rudd and coworkers, and reproduce, in detail, the features of the general ionization spectra. © 1988.

Recommended Citation

T. J. Gay et al., ""Saddle-point" Ionization," Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Physics Research, B, vol. 31, no. 1 thru 2, pp. 336 - 341, Elsevier, Apr 1988.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-583X(88)90442-9

Department(s)

Physics

Comments

National Science Foundation, Grant None

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0168-583X

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2023 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

02 Apr 1988