Abstract
A high-resolution flat crystal spectrometer has been used to measure equilibrium populations of multiplet states in highly ionized sulphur ions passing through thin carbon and aluminium foils. Absolute fractions of excited one to four-electron projectile ions have been determined in order to estimate the quantitative contributions of charge-changing processes via Auger electron emission behind the target foils. The results are in agreement with the model of Betz and Grodzins (1970) which relates charge-state distributions of projectile ions inside and outside solids.