A single-source merged-beam experiment to measure multicharged ion - multicharged ion symmetric charge transfer

We report on the design of a novel technique for measuring symmetric charge transfer in multicharged ion - multicharged ion collisions being developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This technique involves the use of the unanalysed beam from the ORNL-ECR ion source in what is essentially a single-source merged-beam experiment. The unanalysed beam is passed through an interaction cell held at high voltage. Upstripped and downstripped charge exchange components produced within this voltage labeled region exit the cell with different E/q values than the main unreacted beam. The reaction products are separated using a parallel plate electrostatic analyser and detected in coincidence. Using this technique it is proposed to measure cross-sections for the reaction Ar{sup 5+} + Ar{sup 6+} {yields} Ar{sup 6+} + Ar{sup 5+}. Theory predicts a large cross-section for such symmetric charge transfer reactions over a wide energy range. However to date theory remains untested. We will present details of the apparatus currently being constructed together relevant design parameters.