Double- and single-electron transfer in H⁺+K collisions from 0.3 to 4keV:Separation of direct double transfer and two-step successive single-electron transfer

Double-electron transfer and two-step single-electron transfer in collisions of proton with potassium-metal target are measured in the collision energy from 0.3 to 4 keV by using a charge-inversion mass spectrometry. Two prominent H⁻ ion peaks are observed with different values of the energy loss and show different target density dependences. The peak with larger energy loss is identified as double-electron transfer and the other as two-step successive single-electron transfer from the analysis of the target density dependence. The two-step single-electron transfer is considered to occur as the process accompanying spontaneous Ly-α emission, followed by negative H⁻ formation. A theoretical analysis is also carried out, and the single-electron transfer cross section obtained is found to be in excellent agreement with the present measurement, while the present measurement for double-electron transfer is found to be much smaller than those evaluated earlier and the present theory.