Charge-state-dependent energy loss of slow ions. I. Experimental results on the transmission of highly charged ions

We report on energy loss measurements of slow (v ≪ v0) highly charged (Q > 10) ions upon transmission through a 1nm thick carbon nanomembrane. We emphasize here the scaling of the energy loss with velocity and charge exchange/loss. We show that a weak linear velocity dependence exists, whereas charge exchange dominates the kinetic energy loss especially in the case of large charge capture. A universal scaling of the energy loss with charge exchange and velocity is found and discussed in this paper. A model for charge state dependent energy loss for slow ions is presented in part B of this series [Wilhelm, R.A., Mo ̈ller, W., Phys. Rev. A., submitted (2015)].