Highly charged ion
Encyclopedia
Highly charged ions are ion
s in very high charge states due to the loss of many or most of their bound electron
s by energetic collisions or high-energy photon
absorption. Examples are 13-fold ionized iron (Fe13+, or Fe XIV in spectroscopic notation), found in the Sun's corona
, or naked uranium (U92+), bare all bound electrons, which requires very high energy for its production. HCI are found in stellar corona
e, in active galactic nuclei, in supernova remnant
s, and in accretion disks. Most of the visible matter found in the universe consists of highly charged ions. High temperature plasma
s used for nuclear fusion
energy research also contain HCI generated by the plasma-wall interaction (see Tokamak
). In the laboratory, HCI are investigated by means of heavy ion particle accelerator
s and electron beam ion trap
s.
Ion
An ion is an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to the total number of protons, giving it a net positive or negative electrical charge. The name was given by physicist Michael Faraday for the substances that allow a current to pass between electrodes in a...
s in very high charge states due to the loss of many or most of their bound electron
Electron
The electron is a subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge. It has no known components or substructure; in other words, it is generally thought to be an elementary particle. An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton...
s by energetic collisions or high-energy photon
Photon
In physics, a photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic interaction and the basic unit of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is also the force carrier for the electromagnetic force...
absorption. Examples are 13-fold ionized iron (Fe13+, or Fe XIV in spectroscopic notation), found in the Sun's corona
Corona
A corona is a type of plasma "atmosphere" of the Sun or other celestial body, extending millions of kilometers into space, most easily seen during a total solar eclipse, but also observable in a coronagraph...
, or naked uranium (U92+), bare all bound electrons, which requires very high energy for its production. HCI are found in stellar corona
Corona
A corona is a type of plasma "atmosphere" of the Sun or other celestial body, extending millions of kilometers into space, most easily seen during a total solar eclipse, but also observable in a coronagraph...
e, in active galactic nuclei, in supernova remnant
Supernova remnant
A supernova remnant is the structure resulting from the explosion of a star in a supernova. The supernova remnant is bounded by an expanding shock wave, and consists of ejected material expanding from the explosion, and the interstellar material it sweeps up and shocks along the way.There are two...
s, and in accretion disks. Most of the visible matter found in the universe consists of highly charged ions. High temperature plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
s used for nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
energy research also contain HCI generated by the plasma-wall interaction (see Tokamak
Tokamak
A tokamak is a device using a magnetic field to confine a plasma in the shape of a torus . Achieving a stable plasma equilibrium requires magnetic field lines that move around the torus in a helical shape...
). In the laboratory, HCI are investigated by means of heavy ion particle accelerator
Particle accelerator
A particle accelerator is a device that uses electromagnetic fields to propel charged particles to high speeds and to contain them in well-defined beams. An ordinary CRT television set is a simple form of accelerator. There are two basic types: electrostatic and oscillating field accelerators.In...
s and electron beam ion trap
Electron beam ion trap
Electron beam ion trap is used in physics to denote an electromagnetic bottle that produces and confines highly charged ions.It was invented by M. Levine and R...
s.