Magnetically quantized continuum distorted‐wave theory in atomic and molecular collisions

Abstract

AbstractThe continuum distorted‐wave eikonal initial‐state (CDW‐EIS) theory of Crothers and McCann (J Phys B 1983, 16, 3229) used to describe ionization in ion–atom collisions is generalized (G) to GCDW‐EIS to incorporate the azimuthal angle dependence of each CDW in the final‐state wave function. This is accomplished by the analytic continuation of hydrogenic‐like wave functions from below to above threshold, using parabolic coordinates and quantum numbers including magnetic quantum numbers, thus providing a more complete set of states. At impact energies lower than 25 keVu−1, the total ionization cross‐section falls off, with decreasing energy, too quickly in comparison with experimental data. The idea behind and motivation for the GCDW‐EIS model is to improve the theory with respect to experiment by including contributions from nonzero magnetic quantum numbers. We also therefore incidentally provide a new derivation of the theory of continuum distorted waves for zero magnetic quantum numbers while simultaneously generalizing it. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004