Role of polarization interaction in photoionization of negative ions of alkali metals

Abstract

Photoionization processes of negative ions of sodium, potassium, and rubidium were investigated. Calculations of the dependence of the photoionization cross section on the photon energy were performed within the Random Phase Approximation with Exchange for outer subshells (RPAE) and within the Generalized Random Phase Approximation with Exchange (GRPAE) for inner subshells. The latter theoretical approach includes both many-electron correlations and core rearrangement due to escape of one of the electrons from the system. The results of calculations for the negative sodium ion were found to be in good agreement with experimental data. Better agreement was achieved by allowing dynamical polarization of the electron core. It manifests itself as a many-electron response to variation of the external electromagnetic field, which results from the excitation of the many-electron system. Detailed study of the main mechanisms determining the cross section dependence profile was carried out. These mechanisms are the inter- and intrachannel correlations acting as a many-electron response to the external field, the electron core rearrangement, and the dynamic polarization. Besides sodium and potassium ions, photoionization of rubidium ion was investigated. A new method accounting for polarization corrections to optical transition amplitudes based on combination of the Dyson equation and RPAE is proposed.