Charge-transfer collisions between slow multiply charged ions and highly excited Rydberg atoms have been studied to determine the details of the internal energy transfer accompanying charge exchange. The experiment uses lasers to define uniquely the binding energies of both initial and final states of the collision, thereby eliminating the ambiguity inherent in the selective field ionization method used for previous studies. The results clearly characterize the capture energetics over the range of ion charge $q=1--11$ and velocity $v=0.031--0.138\mathrm{a}.\mathrm{u}.$ The measurements are in very good agreement with predictions of the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method, but not with predictions of other classical models.Charge-transfer collisions between slow multiply charged ions and highly excited Rydberg atoms have been studied to determine the details of the internal energy transfer accompanying charge exchange. The experiment uses lasers to define uniquely the binding energies of both initial and final states of the collision, thereby eliminating the ambiguity inherent in the selective field ionization method used for previous studies. The results clearly characterize the capture energetics over the range of ion charge $q=1--11$ and velocity $v=0.031--0.138\mathrm{a}.\mathrm{u}.$ The measurements are in very good agreement with predictions of the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method, but not with predictions of other classical models.

Physical Review AApr 17, 200112 citations

Final quantumnfstate analysis for multiply charged ion-circular Rydberg target collisions

Kevin R. Cornelius, R. E. Olson

The classical trajectory Monte Carlo method has been used to simulate fully stripped ion-circular Rydberg atom collisions. We report that the mechanisms that govern the capture process for ions colliding with aligned Rydberg targets, namely direct and indirect velocity matching, alternate as to which is dominant. Previous experimental and theoretical results for singly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions demonstrate that direct capture processes dominate at intermediate collision speeds. We have found that for highly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions electron capture via indirect velocity matching is dominant at intermediate collision speeds and contributes up to 90% of the total capture cross-section.The classical trajectory Monte Carlo method has been used to simulate fully stripped ion-circular Rydberg atom collisions. We report that the mechanisms that govern the capture process for ions colliding with aligned Rydberg targets, namely direct and indirect velocity matching, alternate as to which is dominant. Previous experimental and theoretical results for singly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions demonstrate that direct capture processes dominate at intermediate collision speeds. We have found that for highly charged ion-Rydberg atom collisions electron capture via indirect velocity matching is dominant at intermediate collision speeds and contributes up to 90% of the total capture cross-section.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJul 11, 20000 citations

q=1--11

and velocity

v=0.031--0.138\mathrm{a}.\mathrm{u}.

The measurements are in very good agreement with predictions of the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method, but not with predictions of other classical models.