Electron capture by slow Ne8+ recoil ions

High-charge low-velocity neon recoil ions have been produced by impact of 1.4 MeV amu-1 uranium ions. Electron capture from surrounding neutral background atoms in subsequent collisions has been studied by observing the quenching of K alpha X-ray lines from metastable states. Capture rate coefficients have been determined for the systems Ne8+ on He, Ne, Ar, CH4 and Xe.