Pair production with electron capture in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Abstract

The creation of an e--e+ pair as an intermediate mechanism of electron capture in collisions between bare heavy ions at relativistic impact velocities is analysed. A distorted-wave model is developed to study the process. A two-centre Sommerfeld-Maue spinor is introduced to represent the positron as moving in the simultaneous presence of the projectile and target nuclei. Single differential cross sections are calculated as a function of positron energy. Comparisons are given with results obtained by using other theoretical approximations.