ChargeExchange
Charge exchange is a collisional process in which a positively charged ion, often highly charged, captures one or more electrons from a neutral atom or molecule during a close encounter. The captured electron typically places the ion in an excited electronic state, and as the ion relaxes to lower energy levels, photons are emitted. In many cases, the emitted photons lie in the ultraviolet or X-ray part of the spectrum, especially for highly charged ions.
The effect changes the charge balance of the colliding species: the ion’s charge is reduced by the
Charge exchange is important in both astrophysical and laboratory contexts. In space, solar wind ions capture
Spectroscopic signatures from charge exchange help identify the interacting species and the physical conditions of the