Investigation of charge transfer in low energy D2+ + H collisions using merged beams

(H2-H)+ is the most fundamental ion-molecule two-electron system. This temporary complex which is formed during charge transfer collisions of H2+ + H proceeds through dynamically coupled electronic, vibrational, and rotational degrees of freedom. Using the upgraded ion-atom merged-beams apparatus at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, absolute direct charge transfer cross sections for D2+ + H are measured from keV/u collision energies where the collision is considered "ro-vibrationally frozen" to meV/u energies where collision times are long enough to sample vibrational and rotational modes. The measurements presented here are the first to benchmark high energy theory and vibrationally specific adiabatic theory.