Energy loss of light ions with allowance for the presence of metastable particles in the ion beam

The change in the average ion charge due to the presence of particles in metastable states in beams of helium-like ions has been studied. The charge distributions and average charges have been calculated for ions with nuclear charges Z = 3−7 and a velocity of 3.65 au in nitrogen. The previously obtained data on the cross sections of loss and capture of electrons by metastable ions and ions in the ground state were used in the calculations. It is shown that the presence of metastable particles in ion beams leads to an increase in the average charge and energy loss for all considered ions.