Open AccessAbsolute photon cross sections for Balmer lines from proton‐SO 2 collisions
Author(s) -
Ammirati Thomas F.,
Monce Michael N.,
Tadesse Desta,
Luthy Peter M.,
Alvarado Naja
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2003ja010359
Subject(s) - balmer series , physics , atomic physics , spectral line , proton , ionization , emission spectrum , torus , line (geometry) , plasma , charge exchange , nuclear physics , ion , astronomy , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Observations of atomic emissions from the Io plasma torus and previously published laboratory work suggest that proton collisions with SO 2 may be a source of some of the spectral lines. We present an analysis of Balmer series lines seen in the spectra of collisions of protons with SO 2 over the range of 50 to 250 keV. Absolute emission cross sections for these lines are measured to be on the order of 10 −19 cm 2 and are in rough agreement with a parametric model for electron capture which supports charge‐transfer ionization of the SO 2 target.