Spectroscopy of few electron slow recoil ions

The production and properties of recoil ions in violent collisions between very heavy projectiles and single atoms are discussed. The present status of spectroscopic studies of one-to-three-electron excited states in such recoil ions is presented through examples of characteristic Auger electron and x-ray emission spectra. The importance of selective electron capture for the preparation of specific excited states is outlined. Possible future applications to high precision spectroscopy are considered. (author)