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[32.06] Laboratory Measurements of Charge Transfer on Atomic Hydrogen at Thermal Energies

C. C. Havener, R. Rejoub (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), M. Schnell, D. W. Savin (Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory)

Charge transfer (CT) of near neutral ions with atomic hydrogen plays an important role in determining the ionization structure, line emission, and thermal structure of cosmic photoionized plasmas such as planetary nebulae (PNe), H II regions, and the intergalactic medium (IGM). Here we will describe our ongoing laboratory program to measure the relevant low energy CT cross sections needed to produce rate coefficients at temperatures of kT < 3 eV. Data at these temperatures are necessary for modeling the above cosmic sources. Measurements are carried out using the ion-atom merged-beams apparatus at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Our experimental setup is unique for being able to measure CT at collision energies below 3 eV. Other commonly used laboratory methods for studying CT with atomic H cannot access this low energy range.

This work is sponsored in part by by DOE and NASA.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #2
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.