Electron detachment in H+-H- collisions

Using the crossed-beams technique, we have measured absolute cross sections for the total production of H-() in collisions between H+ and H- ions H-a(+) + H-b(-) --> H-b(())+... by means of a beam-pulsing method for the H-() detection for centre-of-mass energies between 1.4 and 39.8 keV. From the measured data cross sections f or the electron detachment process H-a(+) + H-b(-) --> H-a(+) + H-b(())+ e(-) were calculated using the total cross sections for mutual neutralization me asured previously. The electron detachment results are in very good agreeme nt with recent theoretical calculations.