Effects of the s- and p-orbital target symmetry on the generalized oscillator strength and its role on the electronic stopping cross-section: preliminary results within a harmonic oscillator approach

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this work, we study the effects of the initial s- and p-orbital target symmetry on the generalized oscillator strength (GOS) and its consequences on the stopping cross-section. We carry out this study within the Bethe theory of energy deposition by implementing a harmonic oscillator (HO) approach to the description of the target's wave-function. We find explicit expressions for the GOS as a function of the initial target's symmetry for angular momentum l=0 and 1, making evident the role of the target's symmetry contribution to the electronic stopping cross-section. The HO angular frequency that characterizes the target is obtained through the mean excitation energy, as reported by Oddershede and Sabin [At. Data Nucl. Data Tables 1984, 31, 275] orbital decomposition. We report the electronic stopping cross-section for protons colliding with He, Li, B, C, Ne, and Ar atomic gases, as a test of our approach to include the behavior of s- and p-orbital target symmetry, showing excellent agreement to the available experimental data. Our results highlight the importance of the initial orbital symmetry on the calculation of the stopping cross-section.