We have measured the yield of convoy electrons produced by 2-MeV/u C projectiles incident on C foils as a function of target thickness (0.8-50 μg/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$) for incident charge states $q_i=4\mathrm{}-6$ and exit charge states $q_e=4\mathrm{}-6$. Normalizing the yields measured in coincidence with ions of exit charge state $q_e$ to the total number of projectiles exiting with charge state $q_e-1\mathrm{}$ we conclude that the target-thickness dependences found support the model of electron loss to the continuum as the dominant convoy-electron production mechanism even for bare projectiles incident on the thinnest targets. For equilibrium-thickness foils the electrons are lost predominantly from excited states.

• Received 4 August 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.34.4493