Electron Capture by Ne10+ Trapped at Very Low Energies

An electrostatic ion trap was used to trap Ne^q+ (1<=q<=10) ions created by a fast xenon beam passing through neon gas. Exponential decay in time of the Ne¹⁰⁺ fraction due to electron capture from neon gas was observed and the decay rates measured. For mean kinetic energies between 7-45 eV, the total electron-capture cross section (σ_ec) is found to be velocity independent. For this energy range we obtain σ_ec(Ne¹⁰⁺)=2.4×10^-15 cm², with an estimated uncertainty of 30%.