Dynamics of electron-capture-to-continuum (ECC) formation in slow ion–atom collisions

The zero-degree ejected-electron spectrum for protons incident on He at 25 keV is examined experimentally using the COLTRIMS technique. The momentum distribution of the emitted electrons for the transfer ionization (TI) reaction channel is measured in coincidence with the momentum vectors of the recoil ion and the scattered projectile. The momentum distribution of the electrons emitted around zero degree in the forward direction for the TI reaction channel shows two prominent structures: the electron-capture-to-the-continuum (ECC) peak and the saddle-point peak. From the measured fully differential electron emission cross sections with respect to the scattering plane we can deduce that the main ECC formation mechanism is electron promotion via quasimolecular orbitals.