Absolute cross-section measurements for collisional destruction of He Rydberg atoms and single electron capture of He+ ions in collision with SF6 Original Research Article

Collisional destruction of 6–40 keV Rydberg helium atoms, having principal quantum numbers in the band 12⩽n⩽15, and single electron capture of 6–34 keV He+ ions in collisions with SF6 gas have been measured. Both cross-sections are in good accord with previous lower energy measurements and, for single electron capture, with estimates based on a semiempirical model. Our measured Rydberg collisional destruction cross-sections have been compared with the sum of the free electron cross-section σe (at equal velocity) and the single electron capture cross-sections σ10 of He+. The data show that the cross-sections for Rydberg collisional destruction are consistent with the independent particle model.