Date of Award

December 2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Committee Member

Joan Marler

Committee Member

Chad Sosolik

Committee Member

Mark Leising

Abstract

This thesis presents a computational study of charge exchange (CX) interactions between highly charged ions (HCIs) and neutrals as well as an overview of a planned experimental study of these CX interactions. The flexible atomic code (FAC) was used to compute energy levels, CX cross sections, and X-ray emission spectra resulting from CX between HCIs (Ne9+, Ne10+, Mg11+, Mg12+, Si13+, Si14+, P14+, P15+, and Fe16+) and neutrals (He, H2, and H). The results were compared to existing data in the literature when available, and are in good agreement overall. In addition, thermal evaporation via a resistive oven was investigated as a method for loading elements that exist as solids at STP into the Clemson University electron beam ion trap (CUEBIT). To do so, a resistive oven was constructed, and a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to measure the neutral beam density resulting from the oven at various temperatures. The results indicate that a resistive oven is a viable method for loading the CUEBIT.

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