Precision measurements of cross sections of inelastic processes realized in collisions of alkali metal ions with atoms of rare gases

This work presents a multifaceted experimental study of collisions of Na$^{+}$ and K$^{+}$ ions in the energy range 0.5 -- 10 keV with He and Ar atoms. Absolute cross sections for charge-exchange, ionization, stripping and excitation were measured using a refined version of the transfer electric field method, angle- and energy-dependent collection of product ions, energy loss, and optical spectroscopy. The experimental data and the schematic correlation diagrams have been employed to analyze and determine the mechanisms for these processes.