Quantum dynamics of electron capture process during H–He2+ collision

Abstract

Quantum dynamics of electron transfer (capture) phenomenon during the H–He2+ collision is investigated by solving two-dimensional time-dependent Schrodinger equation numerically using a third-order split operator technique. Results of this study, represented as the snapshots of the electron wavepacket time evolution, show significantly different dynamics for the electron of different initial orbitals (1s, 2s, 2px and 2py) of the incoming hydrogen atom. This electron transfer dynamics is also detailed by calculating expansion coefficients of the projection of the evolving wavepacket onto the stationary eigenfunctions of the H and He+ species to investigate evolution of the electron density around each nucleus during the collision. The instantaneous and overall electron densities captured by the He2+ nucleus from the H atom are calculated and analyzed. It is also shown evidently and concluded that due to its quantum nature, electron crawls from one nucleus to the other in an electron transfer process during an atom–ion collision.