X-ray emission originating in charge-exchange collisions between Ar${}^{18+}$ and neutral argon is studied at impact energies of 5–4000 eV/amu by means of the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method (CTMC). Line emission and charge-exchange cross sections obtained from different CTMC versions based on the one-active electron approximation are contrasted among themselves and against the results obtained by means of a three-active electron code that lets us infer the role of multiple electron capture. The present results are compared to the recent experimental data available from the EBIT groups operating at Livermore, NIST, and Berlin. We were not able to reconcile the major difference in x-ray emission cross sections obtained from in situ measurements made in EBIT, versus those made in an exterior, field-free collision chamber using ions extracted from the EBIT. Our calculations support the extracted beam results.

• Received 9 December 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.83.032710