Laser-assisted charge-transfer collisions: K++Na.

Abstract

A theory has been formulated to characterize charge-transfer collisions in the presence of an external laser field. The molecular-state-expansion method is used to describe the scattering process within the impact-parameter formalism. Electron translation factors are included in the molecular-state expansion so that the scattering wave function satisfies the correct boundary conditions. The theory is applied to the process ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$+Na\ensuremath{\rightarrow}K+${\mathrm{Na}}^{+}$. In addition, we have made a detailed analysis of laser-assisted charge transfer for low-energy collisions. In this case, a Landau-Zener formula can be derived which shows that the cross section increases with decreasing incident energy. In general the laser coupling is dominant in the low-energy region, while the dynamical coupling becomes important as the collision energy increases.