Influence of electron capture and loss in the energy distribution of protons dissociated from fast H2+ molecules in carbon foils

Abstract

We have measured and calculated the energy distribution at zero exit angle of the proton fragments resulting from the dissociation of fast H2+ molecules when traversing carbon foils of different thicknesses. We discuss the role played by several processes that take place during the motion of the projectiles through the foil, in particular by the electron capture and loss processes, in order to explain the structure of the proton energy distribution.