Absolute differential and integral cross sections for charge transfer of keV O⁺ with N₂

B. G. Lindsay, R. L. Merrill, H. C. Straub, K. A. Smith, and R. F. Stebbings

Phys. Rev. A 57, 331-337 (1998)

We report measurements of the absolute differential cross sections for charge transfer scattering of 0.5, 0.85, 1.5, 2.8 and 5 keV O⁺ by N₂ at scattering angles between 0.04°-3.1° in the laboratory frame. Cross sections for both O⁺(⁴S) ground state and O⁺(²D, ²P) metastable projectiles are presented. The ground state cross section is much smaller than that for the metastable state and the influence of the electronic state of the projectile on the angular distribution of the scattered neutrals is also very significant. The estimated total cross sections are compared with previous measurements.