Electronic capture and excitation of highly charged channeled ions

Two aspects of heavy ion channeling are presented. The first aspect is related to the fact that channeled ions interact only with the most loosely bound target electrons. One can take benefit of this feature to study processes such as radiative electron capture (REC) and resonant transfer and excitation (RTE) in a dense quasi-free electron gas. The experimental work, performed at GANIL, devoted to these two processes is described. A possible extension to Nuclear RTE or NEEC (nuclear excitation by electron capture) studies is also described. The second aspect discussed is related to the periodicity of the potential experienced by channeled ions. We show that in a well chosen case this could lead to a significant and detectable coherent excitation of the projectile nucleus.