Equilibrium convoy electron production and charge exchange

Based on the results from measurements of equilibrium convoy electron yieldsY e (q) in coincidence with projectiles of different outgoing chargesq from Pb31+ (1.4 MeV/u) and C6+ (1 MeV/u) on carbon foils we present a simple rate equation for convoy electron production which gives a consistent interpretation of yields, for light and heavy projectile ions in nonequilibrium and equilibrium of charge exchange. It will be pointed out that from convoy electron yields in the equilibrium regime of charge exchange the relative importance of ELC and ECC processes to the total yield cannot be determined. However, absolute normalized equilibrium convoy electron yieldsY f (q) allows us to estimate the overall contribution of convoy electrons to charge exchange in dependence on the ionization stateq.