Source: wikibot/penning-ionization
= Penning ionization
{wiki=Penning_ionization}
Penning ionization is a process where an atom or molecule is ionized through collisions with an excited metastable atom or molecule, typically an inert gas like helium or neon in a metastable state. In this process, the metastable state of the atom has a higher energy compared to the ground state, allowing it to transfer energy to the target atom or molecule leading to ionization.