Charge fractions and excited-atom populations of 8- to 100-keV deuterium beams emerging from solid films of C, Mg, Nb, and Au

Charge-state fractions and yields of highly excited deuterium atoms produced by electron capture when 8-100-keV deuterons emerge from C, Mg, Nb, and Au surfaces deposited on thin carbon foils under high-vacuum conditions are reported. Atoms with principal quantum number n=6 were detected with an optical technique; atoms in the levels n≈12 to 18 were detected by ionizing them in a strong electric field. Changes with time after evaporation, presumably due to contamination of the surfaces, were observed. The experimental results are compared with available theoretical estimates. Solid and vapor targets are compared for Mg.