Population of projectile excited states act as a probe of ion-matter interaction

The paper deals with the atomic collision physics, particularly with the study of ion-matter interactions by means of heavy ion accelerators. Ion-atom and ion-solid collisions are reviewed as the most recent experiments at GANIL. The population of the projectile states excited during collision is characteristic of the cross sections of the processes involved in the interaction between the projectile and the target. In the case of Ar 16+ -> Ztgas collisions the Lyman and satellite lines emitted by excited Ar ions were recorded while in the case of Kr36+ -> C and Cu collisions the intensities of fine structure components of Balmer α line of excited Kr ion were measured. The experimental set-up is described as well as the specifications imposed on targets and detection systems. Typical spectra recorded with crystal spectrometer in case of Ar36+ colliding with N2 and Xe targets are shown as well as spectra recorded by Si(Li) detector and crystal spectrometers for the interaction of Kr36+ ion in a carbon target. Main results obtained in ion-atom and ion-solid collisions are illustrated by the cross section measurements of Ar16+ interacting with He, N2, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe targets and by the collision of Kr ions with carbon targets, respectively