Saddle-point electrons emitted in $p$-He collisions

The ionization of He by 10–45 keV proton impact was investigated employing recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy. For projectile velocities up to 1 a.u, the electron emission pattern in velocity space shows two intense "banana"-shaped areas similar to the emission pattern previously observed for transfer ionization in collision of $H{e}^{2+}$ with He. These structures extend from the target to the projectile velocities and exhibit a similar focusing towards either of the two nuclei. With increasing impact velocity, an accumulation of the electron velocity distribution at the nuclei becomes more pronounced. At 45 keV proton impact a target-cusp-like peak is observed. In addition to this peak the emission pattern shows signatures of the quasimolecular 2pπ promotion, which is characteristic for the process of saddle-point ionization.