BRANCHING-PROCESSES IN THE DISSOCIATIVE RECOMBINATION OF H-3(+)

We have determined the branching fractions of H3++e to H2 + H or H + H + H or H3* over the energy range 0.001 to 20 eV using the electron cooler at the storage ring CRYRING. The H3+ are stored and cooled at an energy of 6.5 MeV/amu. The recombined products pass through a "translucent" perforated barrier and their total energy is recorded. Thus all particles are detected. Particles passing through holes (70 μm) deposited 6.5 MeV each in the detector, while those passing through the solid (stainless steel 50 μm thick) are not stopped but give pulses of only 4.7 MeV per atom. Analysis of the pulse height spectrum gives the branching fractions directly. © 1995 The American Physical Society.