Electron capture by slow highly-charged neon and argon ions from molecular and atomic hydrogen

Electron capture cross sections for low velocity (106-107 cm/s) highly charged Ne/sup q+/ (2 less than or equal to q less than or equal to 7) and Ar/sup q+/ (2 less than or equal to q less than or equal to 10) projectiles incident on molecular and atomic hydrogen targets have been measured. A recoil ion source that uses the collisions of fast heavy (1 MeV/amu) ions with target gas atoms was utilized to produce slow highly charged ions. Atomic hydrogen was produced by dissociating hydrogen molecules in a thermal oven. Measurements and analysis of the data for the atomic hydrogen oven target are discussed in detail. The measured absolute cross sections were compared with the published data and the predictions of theoretical models