Electron-impact ionization of the N atom

Abstract

Electron-impact ionization cross sections for the ground and excited states of the N atom are calculated using the non-perturbative R-matrix with pseudo-states and time-dependent close-coupling (TDCC) methods, as well as the perturbative distorted-wave method. The TDCC and distorted-wave results for the () excited configurations are much larger than for the ground configuration. In all cases the TDCC results are substantially lower than the distorted-wave results. The ionization cross section results will lead to a better understanding of moderately dense astrophysical and laboratory plasmas containing nitrogen.