Effect of Various Target Molecules on a Charge Transfer Process C₆H₆²⁺ → C₆H₆⁺

Abstract

Various target gases, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, methane, ethane, propane and n-butane, were introduced into first field-free region of a Mattauch-Herzog double focusing mass spectrometer in order to investigate the effect of the pressure and the properties of the target gases on a charge transfer process C₆H₆²⁺ → C₆H₆⁺ at the region. The amount of C₆H₆⁺ produced increased linearly with the pressure of the target gas, as has been reported, and was found to be closely related with the ionization potential of the target gas. The mechanism of the C₆H₆⁺ ion production is investigated by the concept of curve crossing.