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13 pages, 914 KB

Open AccessArticle

by Lidia Lappo, Jakub Zieliński, Fredrik P. Gustafsson, Malgorzata Grosbart, Georgy Kornakov and Michael Doser

Atoms 2025, 13(11), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms13110093 - 19 Nov 2025

Viewed by 430

Abstract

The present study investigates the production of highly charged ions (HCIs) through the novel application of antiprotonic atoms and explores their potential for studying atomic and nuclear structures. Utilizing the Geant4 simulation toolkit, comprehensive simulations were conducted for all known isotopes with atomic numbers below 100. These simulations recorded key parameters of the resulting nuclear fragments, including mass, momentum, charge, and yield. The results obtained from this study offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of HCI production and provide a foundation for planning and analyzing future experimental investigations. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using antiprotonic atoms to advance nuclear and atomic physics research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 21st International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions)

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12 pages, 532 KB

Open AccessArticle

g-Factor Isotopic Shifts: Theoretical Limits on New Physics Search

by Dmitry S. Akulov, Rinat R. Abdullin, Dmitry V. Chubukov, Dmitry A. Glazov and Andrey V. Volotka

Atoms 2025, 13(6), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms13060052 - 13 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1426

Abstract

The isotopic shift of the bound-electron g factor in highly charged ions (HCI) provides a sensitive probe for testing physics beyond the Standard Model, particularly through interactions mediated by a hypothetical scalar boson. In this study, we analyze the sensitivity of this method within the Higgs portal framework, focusing on the uncertainties introduced by quantum electrodynamics corrections, including finite nuclear size, nuclear recoil, and nuclear polarization effects. All calculations are performed for the ground-state

1 s

configuration of hydrogen-like HCI, where theoretical predictions are most accurate. Using selected isotope pairs (e.g.,

{He}^{4 / 6}

{Ne}^{20 / 22}

{Ca}^{40 / 48}

{Sn}^{120 / 132}

{Th}^{230 / 232}

), we demonstrate that the dominant source of uncertainty arises from finite nuclear size corrections, which currently limit the precision of new physics searches. Our results indicate that the sensitivity of this method decreases with increasing atomic number. These findings highlight the necessity of improved nuclear radius measurements and the development of alternative approaches, such as the special differences method, to enable virtually the detection of fifth-force interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Spectroscopy and Collisions)

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10 pages, 4390 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Laboratory Measurement of the Line Ratios in X-Ray Emission Resulting from the Charge Exchange Between Mg¹¹⁺ and Helium

by Kebao Shu, Caojie Shao, Shuo Zhang, Ruitian Zhang, Cheng Qian, Yingli Xue, Mingwu Zhang, Jinlei Tian, Zhenqiang Wang, Xiaolong Zhu, Liangting Sun, Junxia Ran and Deyang Yu

Atoms 2025, 13(4), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms13040034 - 14 Apr 2025

Viewed by 889

Abstract

The line ratios in X-ray emission resulting from charge exchange between highly charged ions (HCIs) and neutral atoms are not only crucial for accurately modeling astrophysical X-ray emissions but also offer a unique perspective on the charge exchange processes happening during collisions. The K X-ray spectra following charge exchange between Mg¹¹⁺ and He are presented for a collision velocity of 1489 km/s (11.5 keV/amu). The spectra were measured by two Silicon Drift Detectors capable of resolving the Mg¹⁰⁺ Kα, Kβ, Kγ, and Kδ+ lines. The line intensity ratios of Kβ, Kγ, and Kδ+ relative to the Kα line, as well as the hardness ratio, were obtained. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical results from a cascade model that utilizes the state cross-sections produced by multichannel Landau–Zener (MCLZ) calculation. It was discovered that the K X-ray spectrum features can be reproduced well by MCLZ theory when the contributions of both single electron capture (SEC) and autoionizing double capture (ADC) processes are included. This finding implies that the ADC feeding mechanism is significant and should be taken into account for the X-ray emission during charge exchange between highly charged ions and multielectron atoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue X-Ray Spectroscopy in Astrophysics)

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6 pages, 1406 KB

Open AccessArticle

Toward Probing Surface Magnetism with Highly Charged Ions

by Perla Dergham, Friedrich Aumayr, Emily Lamour, Stéphane Macé, Christophe Prigent, Sébastien Steydli, Dominique Vernhet, Matthias Werl, Richard Arthur Wilhelm and Martino Trassinelli

Atoms 2022, 10(4), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms10040151 - 13 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2229

Abstract

X-rays produced during collisions between Highly Charged Ions (HCI) and sample surfaces can potentially be used to investigate the surface’s magnetic properties, taking advantage of the (partial) conservation of the spin of the electrons captured by the ion during the collision. We conducted studies to characterize the X-ray detection system and to determine, with a sub-degree accuracy, the incident angle between the incoming ions and the sample surfaces. A series of proof-of-principle experiments are presented involving an Ar¹⁷⁺ ion beam interacting with a nonmagnetic Si sample. The obtained X-ray spectra show a significant dependency in terms of X-ray yield and energy on the ion incidence angle. These findings will be used to guide future ion–magnetic surface studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 20th International Conference on the Physics of Highly Charged Ions)

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16 pages, 242 KB

Open AccessEditorial

Guest Editor’s Notes on the “Atoms” Special Issue on “Perspectives of Atomic Physics with Trapped Highly Charged Ions”

by Elmar Träbert

Atoms 2016, 4(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms4010007 - 24 Feb 2016

Viewed by 4673

Abstract

The study of highly charged ions (HCI) was pursued first at Uppsala (Sweden), by Edlén and Tyrén in the 1930s. Their work led to the recognition that the solar corona is populated by such ions, an insight which forced massive paradigm changes in solar physics. Plasmas aiming at controlled fusion in the laboratory, laser-produced plasmas, foil-excited swift ion beams, and electron beam ion traps have all pushed the envelope in the production of HCI. However, while there are competitive aspects in the race for higher ion charge states, the real interest lies in the very many physics topics that can be studied in these ions. Out of this rich field, the Special Issue concentrates on atomic physics studies that investigate highly charged ions produced, maintained, and/or manipulated in ion traps. There have been excellent achievements in the field in the past, and including fairly recent work, they have been described by their authors at conferences and in the appropriate journals. The present article attempts an overview over current lines of development, some of which are expanded upon in this Special Issue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Perspectives of Atomic Physics with Trapped Highly Charged Ions)

17 pages, 209 KB

Open AccessArticle

Electron Capture in Collisions of Slow Highly Charged Ions with an Atom and a Molecule: Processes and Fragmentation Dynamics

by François Frémont, Guillaume Laurent, Jimmy Rangama, Przemyslaw Sobocinski, Medhi Tarisien, Lamri Adoui, Amine Cassimi, Jean-Yves Chesnel, Xavier Fléchard, Dominique Hennecart and Xavier Husson

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2002, 3(3), 115-131; https://doi.org/10.3390/i3030115 - 28 Mar 2002

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 9637

Abstract

Processes involved in slow collisions between highly charged ions (HCI) and neutral targets are presented. First, the mechanisms responsible for double electron capture are discussed. We show that, while the electron-nucleus interaction is expected to be dominant at projectile velocities of about 0.5 a.u., the electron-electron interaction plays a decisive role during the collision and gains importance when the projectile velocity decreases. This interaction has also to be invoked in the capture of core electrons by HCI. Finally, the molecular fragmentation of H₂ following the impact of HCI is studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Charge Transfer in Ionic and Molecular Systems)

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