Electron-impact dissociation of CH⁺ ions: Measurement of C⁺ fragment ions

Absolute cross sections for electron-impact dissociation of CH⁺ ions producing C⁺ fragment ions were measured with the ORNL crossed-beams apparatus with a total expanded uncertainty of approximately 10% near the peak. The storage ring measurements of Forck and Amitay et al. were about 15-25% higher than the present results, but the discrepancy was within the combined experimental uncertainties. The dispersion pattern of the C⁺ fragment ions in the analyzing magnetic field yields an estimated upper limit of 3.8 eV for the average kinetic energies of relase (KER).