Physics Commons^™

Ionization And Ionization-Excitation Of Helium To The N=1-4 States Of He⁺ By Electron Impact, Susan M. Bellm, Julian C A Lower, Klaus Bartschat, Xiaoxu Guan, Daniel Weflen, Matthew S. Foster, Allison L. Harris, Don H. Madison

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We present experimental and theoretical results for the electron-impact-induced ionization of ground-state helium atoms. Using a high-sensitivity toroidal electron spectrometer, we measured cross-section ratios for transitions leading to the first three excited states of the residual helium ion relative to the transition leaving the ion in the ground state. Measurements were performed for both symmetric- and asymmetric-energy-sharing kinematics. By presenting results as a ratio, a direct comparison can be made between theoretical and experimental predictions without recourse to normalization. The experimental data are compared to theoretical predictions employing various first-order models and a second-order hybrid distorted-wave + convergent R matrix …