Video recordings of 36 shaped-charge barium experiments were examined for indications that ionization might, under some circumstances, proceed at a faster rate than that known to result from solar ionization (28 s). Attention was focused on releases injected at an angle of less than 25¿ to the magnetic field. In these releases, the velocity perpendicular to B of much of the barium is less than Alfv¿n's critical velocity, but the kinetic energy nonetheless exceeds the ionization potential. In four of the experiments, the time constant for decay of the neutrals was measured using an ultrasensitive color TV camera and was found to have a value of 30¿5 s. In addition, it was shown that any impulse of ionization at the time of release must have been less than 4% of the barium. The qualitative appearance of most jets was found to be consistent with a slow process of ionization. Some releases, however, produced a thin confined jet that was suggestive of rapid ionization. The most extreme example of this type (Oosik) was analyzed by comparing intensity profiles through the jet to calculated profiles for various assumed time constants. The measured profile was consistent with any time constant in excess of 20 s and was inconsistent with burst ionization in excess of 1%. It is concluded that the barium is ionized primarily by sunlight and that other processes of ionization do not produce an effect large enough to measure in the presence of solar ionization. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1988