Model potential methods for the description of electron capture by multiply charged ions from single and multi-electron targets: Application to Ar6+–H and Ar6+–He systems

Abstract

It is demonstrated how model potential methods can be adapted to generate an adiabatic basis set for the description of single electron capture by multicharged ions from many-electron targets. The calculated curve-crossing parameters are compared with other semi-empirical estimations. The sensitivity of the electron capture cross sections to these parameters is discussed with reference to the Ar6+–H and Ar6+–He systems. The comparison with experimental data for the Ar6+–He system indicate that model potential techniques are very satisfactory. For the Ar6+–H system, a detailed interpretation of the experimental energy gain spectra is difficult because of the strong overlap of the electron capture channels. A quantitative comparison with the two-centre atomic state basis set calculations reveals some significant discrepancies in the forward scattering of the 5s capture channel.