EBIT Charge-Exchange Measurements and Astrophysical Applications
arXiv:0708.0233 · doi:10.1139/P07-125
Abstract
The past decade has seen a surge of interest in astrophysical charge exchange (CX). The impetus was the discovery of X-ray emission from comets in 1996, soon followed by the observation of CX emission in planetary atmospheres and throughout the heliosphere. Geocoronal and heliospheric CX are now recognized to contribute a considerable fraction of the soft X-ray background, and stellar-wind charge exchange is expected to occur in the astrospheres surrounding many stars. CX may also contribute to X-ray line emission in supernova remnants, the Galactic Center, and the Galactic Ridge. This article summarizes the key aspects of CX X-ray emission and its astrophysical relevance, and reviews related laboratory measurements and theoretical predictions with particular attention to spectroscopy experiments conducted on electron beam ion traps.
28 pages, 26 figures (some a bit degraded from compression), accepted by Can. J. Phys. for special issue on "20 Years of EBIT Spectroscopy"