Low Energy Electron Emission in Fast Ion-Atom Collisions

Abstract

We review here some of the recent studies on low energy electron emission in highly charged heavy-ion atom collisions involving atomic hydrogen as target. The double differential distributions of the low energy electrons, in terms of emission angle and energy, can provide a detailed understanding of the ionization process. We present the recent measurements on the energy and angular distributions of electrons emitted in ionization of atomic and molecular hydrogen and helium in collision with fast bare ions. It is shown that two centre effect plays a major role in heavy ion-atom ionization. A large forward-backward asymmetry in the angular distribution of low energy electrons has been observed which arises due to two centre effect and is discussed. A comparison with different theoretical models based on Bl (first Born) and CDW-EIS (continuum distorted wave eikonal initial state) approximations is presented.