Influence of the projectile field on free target electrons.

Abstract

The spectral distribution of loosely bound target electrons emitted in collisions with fast bare projectiles is described in terms of electron capture to the projectile continuum. Comparison with experimental data on electron ejection from He by 1--5-MeV/amu H[sup +], C[sup 6+], O[sup 8+], and F[sup 9+] impact into forward directions shows that the impulse approximation for rearrangement is able to describe the shape of the energy distribution not only at the cusp, but also in the binary-encounter region and beyond. The results of the post form of the impulse approximation are discussed in relation to the first-order Born approximation, the continuum distorted-wave theory, the fully peaked prior impulse approximation, and in particular the recently presented distorted-wave strong-potential Born approximation.