Benchmark n ℓ-resolved Cross Sections of Single and Double Charge Exchange Processes in 1.67–20 keV u⁻¹ C⁴⁺ Collisions with He

Abstract State-resolved charge exchange (CX) cross sections are of the utmost importance for modeling related photon emissions existing in a broad range of astrophysical environments. With the cold-target recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy, we determined with high accuracy the state-resolved single and double CX cross sections at the quantum orbital angular momentum level for solar wind ion C4+ collisions with He in an energy range of 1.67–20 keV u−1, which allow one to benchmark the CX calculations in great detail, and to test the applicability of the analytical n- and ℓ-distribution models widely adopted by the astrophysical community. We found that the present measurements are well reproduced by the most recent state-of-the-art atomic–orbital close-coupling calculations. However, the CX models failed to give a consistent description on the measured ℓ distributions. The present work reveals that the velocity and collision partner species dependence effects as well as electronic correlations for multielectron processes should be included in an improved model. Alternatively, in future modeling to interpret high-resolution astrophysical observations the more elaborate quantum-mechanical calculations may be resorted to with confidence.