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Perhaps they're just shy, but heavy atoms seem very uncomfortalbe when most of their electrons are stripped off. In order to cover their nakedness as quickly as possible, they aggressively try to steal electrons from any source they encounter. Their electron capture rates can be orders of magnitude higher than those of ordinary ions. Stripped ions are not just embarrassed, they are literally charged up about the situation. As a result, they present interesting opportunities to study the influence of extreme electric fields on a variety of physical process.
Citation
Physics World
Volume
14
Issue
No. 8
Pub Type
Journals
Keywords
dielectronic recombination, highly charged ions, ion traps, QED, quantum electrodynamics, strong electric fields
Citation
Gillaspy, J.
(2001),
Quantum Electrodynamics in the Dark, Physics World
(Accessed October 8, 2024)