Three-body Dynamics in Hydrogen Ionization by Fast Highly Charged Particles

Author

J. Fiol
Ronald E. Olson, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

Electron double and triple differential cross sections are calculated as a function of projectile momentum transfer for ionization of ground and excited state hydrogen by 3.6 MeV u^-1 C⁶⁺ and Au⁵³⁺ ions. These three-body Coulomb systems are investigated using the classical-trajectory Monte Carlo and continuum distorted wave methods that incorporate all interactions including the nuclear-nuclear potential. The calculations allow one to distinguish cross section features associated with three collision mechanisms. The first is due to distance collisions that lead primarily to a binary interaction between the projectile and electron. The second is a strong three-body interaction by the projectile with both the electron and the target ion when the projectile passes between the electron and its parent nucleus. These two mechanisms result in binary peak electrons located near the momentum transfer vector Q with active participation by the recoil ion along -Q in order to determine the overall momentum transfer magnitude. The third mechanism, which is present only for fast highly charged ion impact, yields electron spectra that here-to-fore have not been observed. Rather than the electrons being scattered near the angle θ associated with the momentum transfer vector Q, they are found at an angle of 360° -θ. Such electrons are due to a close collision of the projectile with the target nucleus with the electron being forced to swing by its parent. These electrons are not so-called recoil electrons associated with the angle 180° + θ. Moreover, in this case neither the recoil ion nor the electron spectra peak near Q. Calculations are also presented for collisions with excited hydrogen in order to assess the collision dynamics as a function of the radial dimensions of the target atom.

Recommended Citation

J. Fiol and R. E. Olson, "Three-body Dynamics in Hydrogen Ionization by Fast Highly Charged Particles," Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, vol. 35, no. 7, pp. 1759 - 1773, IOP Publishing, Apr 2002.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/35/7/312

Department(s)

Physics

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0953-4075

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2024 IOP Publishing, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

14 Apr 2002