Charge transfer in cluster-atom collisions

Abstract

Charge transfer in collisions Na n + + Cs ( ) is investigated theoretically within a microscopic framework. It is shown that an understanding of the measured charge transfer cross-sections can be obtained only if the competing reaction channels (electronic excitations and fragmentation) are treated simultaneously and, in addition, if the initial temperature of the clusters in the beam is taken into account. The energy dependence of the cross-sections is predicted. An exotic charge transfer channel producing Cs- is found to have a finite probability.