Ion-pair production in the collisional dissociation of H2+

This paper is concerned with ion-pair formation in collisional dissociation of H2+ and follows earlier work on H2. Cross sections for ion-pair formation and the energy distribution of the fragments have been measured for 6 keV H2+ ions impinging on He, Kr and Xe targets. In addition, cross sections for negative-ion production have also been determined. The results indicate that ion-pair formation from H2+ in rare gases could be described as a two-step process involving electron capture into a predissociated Rydberg state. This contrasts with the case of H2. Moreover, it is shown that ion-pair formation cannot account for the total yield of negative ions. (author)