Close-encounter collisions between few keV H$_{2}^{+}$ and Ar: Can the H$_{2}^{+}$ survive?*

Collisions between 3 keV H$_{2}^{+}$ and Ar atoms lead predominantly to dissociative capture (DC) and collision-induced dissociation (CID). The large momentum transfer in close encounters between the nuclei of these collision partners can result in dissociation driven by vibrational excitation. One interesting question is, \textit{can the} H$_{2}^{+}$ \textit{molecule remain bound after absorbing the large momentum transfer typical to a trajectory that passes through the atom's electronic shells}? Our recent experimental evidence suggests that this may be the case and gives indications for what specific conditions make it possible. Explicitly, this insight is gained by studying the non-dissociating direct ionization process, H$_{2}^{+}$ + Ar $\to $ H$_{2}^{+}$ + Ar$^{+}$ + e$^{-}$, and the complimentary collision induced dissociation process, H$_{2}^{+}$ + Ar $\to $ H$^{+}$ + H + Ar, for the same momentum transfer.