Abstract
Recombination of highly charged ions with free electrons is studied in merged-beams experiments at the UNILAC accelerator in Darmstadt and at the heavy-ion storage ring TSR in Heidelberg. Unexpected high recombination rates are observed for a number of ions at very low energiesE cm in the electron-ion center-of-mass frame. In particular, theoretical estimates for radiative recombination are dramatically exceeded by the experimental recombination rates of U28+ ions nearE cm=0 eV. The observations point to a general phenomenon in electron ion recombination depending onE cm, on the ion charge state, and possibly also on electron density, electron beam temperature, and strength of external magnetic fields.
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Uwira, O., Müller, A., Spies, W. et al. Recombination of electrons with highly charged heavy ions at very low energies. Hyperfine Interact 99, 295–300 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02274933
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02274933