Investigation of the formation of autoionizing metastable lithium-like particles in collisions between fast ions and argon atoms

The relative amount, αν(T), of ions in the autoionization state (1s 2s 2p)4P5/2 in beams of fast lithium-like particles produced on the passage of the ions of light elements with nuclear charges Z=4-8, velocities v=(4-12)x108 cm/s and electron numbers ν=1, 2, 3 through argon targets of various thickness T is measured. The autoionizing particles are identified on the basis of the spontaneous increase of the ion charge in the collision chamber. The probabilities for metastable ion production during the capture of one or two electrons and the limiting α-values on the passage of fast particles through thick targets are determined. The main features of the function αν(T) are considered. The effect of the presence of metastable particles in the ion beams on the mean cross sections for loss and capture of one or two electrons in assessed