Dynamics of L-shell electrons in multiple electron capture from Ar atoms by slow highly charged ions

Abstract

A method is developed that makes it possible to incorporate molecular orbital effects in the framework of the classical over-barrier model by Niehaus for many-electron transfer in slow collisions of highly charged ions with atoms. This method describes nonadiabatic transitions, for respective electrons, among discrete quantum states in a quasimolecule formed during a collision. It is applied to L-shell electrons of target Ar atoms in collisions of C6+, N6+ and O6+ ions. By further taking into account possible autoionization processes following electron transfer, we can roughly reproduce the recoil-ion charge-state distribution observed in a recent experiment. The projectile dependence is derived through the Pauli principle.