We report cross-section measurements for collisions of multicharged iron ions with a molecular-hydrogen target: (a) electron capture and electron loss of the multicharged ions, and (b) impact ionization of the hydrogen target. Iron ions, ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{+q}$, were used with charge states $q=3-13\mathrm{}$ at 103 keV/amu, $q=9-16\mathrm{}$ at 294 keV/amu, $q=11-22\mathrm{}$ at 1160 keV/amu, and $q=20-25\mathrm{}$ at 3400 keV/amu. We find that an empirically determined expression for the electron-capture cross section, $\sigma =(1.2\mathrm{}\times {10}^{-8\mathrm{}})q^{3.15}E{(\mathrm{keV}/\mathrm{amu})}^{-4.48\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^2$/molecule, describes all the data at and above 275 keV/amu. These measurements are compared with recent theoretical calculations.

• Received 15 September 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.23.2891