Dynamic screening of ions in solids

Abstract

The dynamic screening charge and potential induced by a charged particle moving through or nearby condensed matter are central quantities required for an understanding of various phenomena; the pioneering ideas of Ritchie on dynamic screening have led the way to a great deal of theoretical and experimental work on this topic. The asymmetry of the induced charge leads to a retarding force acting on the particle, i.e., stopping power. At high velocities, the collective response of the medium manifests itself in an oscillatory trailing wake. The energy levels of the incoming ion, modified by the presence of the induced charge are important in the understanding of the resonant-coherent excitation effect at bulk and surfaces, charge states, and X-ray emission of intra-atomic Auger transitions between levels of moving ions in solids. Recent results related to the above for different velocity regimes, both in linear and nonlinear theories, in bulk and surfaces, are discussed.